Official Rangers partner reacts to multimillion Tasos Douvikas transfer reports after Celtic 'hijack' suggestion
Rangers are not attempting to sign FC Utrecht forward Tasos Douvikas this summer and there is "nothing" in the reported links to him, according to Heart & Hand.
TEAMtalk had reported on 23 May that the Light Blues were ready to "hijack" Celtic's interest in the Greek striker, and reports have cropped up again in recent days claiming that an €8million [£6.8million] bid was on its way imminently.
Reports in Scotland on Monday (19 June) cited the Greek outlet Nova Sports (17 June), which itself was claiming the information came from media in the Netherlands and the UK, suggesting the stories may be somewhat confused and the club partner's reaction appears to confirm that.
Reacting to the latest via Twitter on Monday afternoon Heart & Hand posted: "Nothing in the Douvakis links. Club not pursuing him."
Dead in the water?
Clearly, 19 goals in the Eredivisie last season would make the 23-year-old an attractive option for Rangers, and Michael Beale does want to bring multiple forwards in this summer.
He has already sewn up a deal for Sam Lammers from Sampdoria for around £3million [Sky Sports, 16 June], and has been after Cyriel Dessers from Cremonese for closer to £5million [Daily Record, 12 June], although there are late fears that deal may now be hijacked from within Italy.
Unless the second of those deals is at risk of becoming a lost cause it seems unlikely that Rangers would be able to financially stretch to a push for Douvikas, regardless of what Celtic may or may not be up to.
But by the sounds of things there isn't anything behind it anyway, so barring a sudden change of heart during the window the links look to be going nowhere.
Alfredo Morelos is gone, Antonio Colak could go, and Kemar Roofe is often likely to be in the treatment room either way, so more up front is going to be required on top of Lammers.
Fans will be eager to see who Beale can add before next term, but it appears the chances of Douvikas being involved are slim to none.