The promising left-back is poised to join the Rotterdam giants after his contract expires in July. Smal, who topped the Eredivisie’s assist charts in 2022/23, declined offers ‘from overseas’ to stay in his own country. Rangers was among the clubs interested in him.
Rangers set to miss out on Gijs Smal
“The agreement between Feyenoord and Gijs Smal to join as free agent in the summer is almost done, despite no formal confirmation from the player side yet,” the uber-reliable Fabrizio Romano writes on X.
“A verbal agreement is in place, and it will soon be time to sign the contract. Smal declined an offer from abroad to join Feyenoord.”
With the 26-year-old seemingly no longer off the market, Rangers will have to look elsewhere for a left-back capable of filling Borna Barisic’s shoes when his contract expires in a few months. Smal, who shares Barisic’s superb delivery from set-pieces and deep positions, seemed like an obvious successor for the long-serving Croatian, but he is not the only alternative being considered.
Jefte Vital remains an option at Ibrox.
According to Romano, Rangers reached an agreement with Fluminense to sign Jefte Vital in January. Before conversations went down, APOEL Nicosia was hesitant to end the loan deal that brought the 20-year-old Brazilian to Cyprus last summer.
Jefte, on the other hand, will most likely be available in the summer. And, while he is not a household name in Glasgow, the success of the early Philippe Clement-Nils Koppen era gives Rangers’ decision makers the benefit of the doubt.
The club’s three post-Mick Beale additions, Mohamed Diomande, Fabio Silva, and Oscar Cortes, have all been successful so far.
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