Former Rangers star Ronald de Boer believes Vitesse Arnhem captain Danilho Doekhi would be a sensible addition to Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Ibrox ranks, speaking to the Scottish Sun.
Remarkably, just two of the 11 Celtic players who started in last week’s 3-0 Old Firm victory over their Glasgow rivals were wearing green-and-white before Ange Postecoglou’s arrival in the summer of 2021.
Rangers, on the other hand…
Only Amad Diallo, the loan signing from Manchester United, is new to Scottish football.
The rest of Van Bronckhorst’s XI, including James Tavernier, Allan McGregor and Glen Kamara, have been at Rangers for some time now.
Understandably, then, fears are growing that this is a Rangers team crying out for an injection of new blood.
Especially when you consider that, between now and July 2023, Conor Goldson, Leon Balogun, Steven Davis, McGregor, Scott Arfield, Ryan Kent, Joe Aribo, Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Jack and Filip Helander will all become free-agents as things stand.
Taking a leaf out of Celtic’s book might not be the worst idea. With so many players facing an uncertain future at Ibrox.
Because, while Postecoglou has made excellent progress in a substantial rebuilding project, Van Bronckhorst must act fast to stop the walls from crumbling around him.
And that’s where Doekhi comes in.
Will Rangers sign Danilho Doekhi this summer?
The £2 million-rated centre-half has been identified as a readymade successor for Goldson at Ibrox and with good reason.
Doekhi is not only a natural-born leader, he is also a commanding central defender blessed with superb positional sense and an impressive passing range with the ball at his feet.
“Doekhi is a very promising player. He is a physical central defender,” says De Boer, who won a domestic treble with Rangers in 2003.
“He’s tall but good with the ball and able to build up (play from the back). He’s a good defender but can still learn and continue to improve.
“I think he’s one for the future. (Doekhi) would be a good signing, who could help Rangers and make them a stronger team.”
Doekhi, who has also been linked with Italian giants Napoli, admitted a few weeks ago that Rangers are ‘following’ him.
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