Sources: Rangers set sights on signing newly-available De Jong
Russell Martin is giving “serious consideration” to the potential of bringing Luuk de Jong to Rangers on a free transfer this summer, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what his sources have said about the prospect of De Jong making a move to Ibrox.
Martin is in the midst of a rebuild in his first summer at Rangers and is yet to strengthen up front, with Cyriel Dessers, Hamza Igamane and Danilo the only out-and-out striking options he has to choose from.
Rangers have been backed to succeed with an ambitious approach for Jamie Vardy, but sources have told Football Insider that the Gers are keen on De Jong after he failed to agree a new contract at PSV.
Football Insider sources have said that Rangers are giving “serious consideration” to signing De Jong this summer, and are assessing what length of contract they could offer the 38-cap Dutch international.
‘Rangers can’t afford to miss out’ on potential De Jong deal
Man United and Blackburn scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Rangers could be on the brink of selling Dessers to AEK Athens this summer after contract talks stalled, leaving a dearth of number nines.
Speaking on the new Inside Track, O’Rourke said that a player of De Jong’s quality won’t be available to Rangers for very long, and argued that the title-winning PSV captain would be a hit for the Light Blues.
“It would be an ambitious signing if they were to get him”, he told Football Insider.
“It’s looking like he is going to be a free agent, having run down his contract at PSV and not being able to agree a new deal with the Dutch champions so far.
“When an opportunity like this comes up for a proven player like Luke De Jong, you definitely need to look into it and give it serious consideration, and that’s what Rangers are doing right now.
“Bringing in somebody like De Jong on a one-year deal or possibly a one-plus-one year deal, does make a lot of sense – he would definitely come in and do a job for Rangers.”
De Jong an ideal fit as Rangers rebuild in Martin’s image
Martin’s maiden summer at Ibrox has seen several new arrivals confirmed already, with Djeidi Gassama’s move from Sheffield Wednesday confirmed on 15 July to become Rangers’ seventh brand-new signing.
Centre-forwards have so far evaded the Gers though, and while a potential move for a Premier League legend in Vardy has been described as a “masterstroke”, De Jong would arguably be an even better fit.
De Jong is almost four years younger than Vardy as well as a more capable target-man standing at six-foot-two, and given Rangers’ struggles to break down the Scottish Premiership’s rigid defences last season, De Jong could be an ideal option.