Rangers plotting £2.5m transfer swoop for Eredivisie wonderkid

Rangers are reportedly leading the race to sign Vitesse Arnhem and Dutch U21 right-winger Million Manhoef.

Shortly after, Philippe Clement moved quickly to secure the loan signing of Wolves’ Fabio Silva to Ibrox, where he will remain until the end of the season.

When Senegalese international Abdallah Sima leaves for the African Cup of Nations in January, the £35 million player should assist fill the vacuum.

However, according to The Scottish Sun, Clement isn’t stopping there and is in the lead to spend big money on Million Manhoef.

The highly-regarded Dutch winger Manhoef is reportedly being watched by Preston North End and Leicester City, who are ranked first and eleventh in the EFL Championship, respectively, according to the outlet’s source.

Rangers are reportedly in the lead to sign him, despite competition for his services. Manhoef, who turns 22 at the beginning of January, has played for the Dutch U21 squad in ten games and scored three goals.

Having been a part of Vitesse Arnhem since his early years, he made his debut with the first squad in the 2020–21 season.

He has now been a regular with Vitesse, who are currently in last place in the Eredivisie. In 84 club appearances, Manhoef has totaled 16 goals and 14 assists for his teammates.

At the end of the previous season, he received two individual awards in recognition of his performance for Vitesse. He received both talent of the month and a spot on the May 2023 Eredivisie team of the month.

With Manhoef’s contract expiring in 2025, Rangers may be paying far less than Vitesse had originally demanded—£2.5 million.

According to reports, Rangers have been monitoring Manhoef over the past year, and director of football Nils Koppen is a supporter of  the right-winger’s talents.

Since his arrival this season, Ross McCausland has been taking up the right-wing position, but there isn’t much of a competition behind him.

Manhoef might be the player to keep McCausland on his toes and offer another option—possibly even more—at a position the Rangers have struggled to strengthen in recent years.