Joey Veerman could soon be turning out in the United Kingdom.
Only, it could be for Newcastle United and not Rangers, three years on from the Ibrox side’s high-profile pursuit of the then Heerenveen midfielder.
The name Joey Veerman is enough to cause a painful flashback for Rangers fans to a summer of discontent which led to infighting, exits and ultimately, the surrendering of the league title.
The club has been building back ever since with the failure to build on 55 a stinging regret for Rangers fans everywhere, including Dave King.
Joey Veerman linked to Newcastle United
Joey Veerman has become something of symbol of that excruciating summer transfer window which preceded the exit of Steven Gerrard.
Now at PSV Eindhoven, Rangers have had plenty of reminders round Joey Veerman in recent seasons.
Having faced the Dutch side in back to back Champions League playoffs, the results against the Dutch midfielder have been mixed.
Qualifying at PSV’s expense in 22/23, this season Rangers were blown away by the Eredivisie champions elect after another controversial window under Michael Beale. Veerman even scored.
Veerman, 25, is viewed as one of the Eredivisie side’s biggest success stories and Rangers might regret not coughing up for the player back in 2021.
Moving to PSV for around €5m (£4m) six months later, Veerman has routinely turned heads in the Premier League but now Newcastle United have apparently entered the fray.
According to iNews, the midfielder has been watched by the Magpies as they brace for major interest in Brazilian playmaker Bruno Guimarães.
Rangers player trading transfer model shown up
Rangers can look back on the Joey Veerman transfer saga with some disappointment given how close the links between the club and the midfielder where.
But the Dutch playmaker is not the only example of the Gers’ stumbling final few transfer windows under former sporting director Ross Wilson and chairman Douglas Park.
Dutch defender Danilho Doekhi was another closely linked to Rangers but the defender wound up at Union Berlin. Now he’s being tipped for a move to the Premier League.
Andreas Skov Olsen, then of Bologna, also moved to Club Brugge in the winter of 2022 and since then the Danish winger has found a home.
But again – as in the case of Veerman and Doekhi – the bright lights of the Premier League reportedly beckon.
There’s also now AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders – another Dutchman – who was convinced not to make the move to Ibrox by Bert Konterman.
All of these players are now being touted for moneyspinning moves and the situation with Joey Veerman and Newcastle United brings Rangers’ player trading failures into sharp focus.
There was a moment when a more aggressive approach would’ve landed some of these guys and we’ve got to say they always looked nailed on to bank us a profit.
Whilst we understand it’s not quite as simple as hauling them to Ibrox, their financial potential must be making some in the Rangers boardroom wince.
This is exactly why John Bennett has committed to a braver approach to player trading and we’ve already seen that focus shift in the January window.
