Rangers' £7m move for PSV winger Couhaib Driouech collapses
Rangers pull the plug on their proposed £6.5m move for the PSV winger after concerns emerged over his short-term fitness and availability, following the club's Europa League exit last night.
Rangers’ proposed transfer for PSV Eindhoven winger Couhaib Driouech has fallen through after an issue was identified with the player’s fitness.
The Ibrox club had agreed a fee believed to be around £6.5 million with PSV, while personal terms had also been settled with the 24-year-old Moroccan. However, Rangers have now decided not to proceed with the deal following concerns raised during his medical.
Driouech had been in Glasgow and was pictured at Ibrox on Thursday night watching from the stands as Rangers were knocked out of the Europa League qualifiers after a 3-2 aggregate defeat by Jagiellonia Bialystok.
The winger had been expected to complete his move on Friday, but he will instead return to the Netherlands. Reports indicate that an injury was flagged during the medical, prompting Rangers to call off the transfer at the final stage.
However, there are indications that Driouech was was only carrying a minor knock, which Rangers knew about prior to him having his medical, which would not have resulted in the player failing the medical.
There seems to have been some disagreement over the length of time it would take him to be ready to play, with Rangers withdrawing from the deal because they felt he would not be immediately available while Driouech’s camp said it was only a short term issue.
Rangers manager Derek McInnes had previously suggested that negotiations were well advanced.
“Once we know, we know. I think all these things are ongoing”, he said, while also describing the club’s position as being “far down the line” with the signing.
The proposed move would have made Driouech one of Rangers’ major summer signings, but the deal’s collapse represents another blow for Rangers during a difficult period for the club.
With the Driouech transfer now off, Rangers have stated they are now looking at other potential targets.