5 days ago
Rangers transfer rumours collide as Luuk de Jong shares trait with Ibrox linked star as PSV hero arrives at D-Day
De Jong is currently out of contract with the Eredivisie champions
Rangers have been told about the leadership credentials Luuk de Jong could bring to Ibrox - with the Dutchman drawing comparisons to another veteran who has also been mooted as a Light Blues target.
Captain De Jong is out of contract with PSV Eindhoven after banging in 14 league goals last season to help the Eredivisie giants secure a second championship in succession.
The 34-year-old has been back training with the club until his future is resolved but talk over a potential move to Govan has been directly addressed by his manager Peter Bosz.
And while the rumours roll on, fans have been given an insight into the kind of character the former Newcastle and Barcelona striker is on the pitch.
Top-flight referee Bas Nijhuis - who has been a FIFA listed whistler since 2007 - has also compared De Jong's demeanour to Jordan Henderson, with the ex Liverpool skipper also weighing up his options after leaving PSV's rivals Ajax.
Asked about Henderson on Dutch television show De Oranjezomer on Wednesday, he said: "Those types of players create a bit of a buzz on the pitch. He shouts at you a lot from a distance. He's quite active and coaches a lot.
"I think he's a completely different type of captain than Luuk de Jong.
"He's much calmer and calls out sometimes. That's a completely different type. But I do like players who are a bit different."
One of the biggest transfer sagas in recent memory drew to a close last week with Hearts talisman Lawrence Shankland finally putting pen to paper on a new deal at Tynecastle.
Shankland was previously on Rangers' radar and one former Scotland international has given his thoughts on why Russell Martin and Kevin Thelwell didn't move heaven and earth to try and snap up the 2023/24 Premiership Golden Boot winner.
Ex Liverpool and Everton midfielder Don Hutchison told "I really like him. I think he's a good player.
"I just think it depends on what Russell Martin wants, so he might not have wanted to push hard for him. Maybe he was always interested in staying with Hearts if he could.
"Martin will have in his mind a certain type of player that he wants to work with, a certain type of style. But Shankland has always looked like a good player to me.
"I quite like the way he plays. I quite like the way he wears his heart on his sleeve, I think. I think he's an industrious player. It's making that step up.
"We can't be sure that Martin saw in Shankland the kind of player he thought he needed to get a balanced side at Ibrox."
