Rangers may not miss out on Million Manhoef after all amid the Ibrox side’s need for at least one quality winger this window, after the Dutch side, with all their very messy financial issues, loaned from Brighton right winger Adrian Mazilu, meaning Manhoef can now be shipped out.
The Dutch side were being bankrolled for a long time by ex-Chelsea mogul Roman Abramovich (which they and Chelsea denied), but once his European assets were frozen, particularly the Stamford Bridge side, then sold elsewhere, Vitesse became a big financial victim.
Nowadays Vitesse are owned by an American businessman, but he isn’t funnelling the cash in the way the Russian Oligarch was, and he also isn’t facilitating ‘player trafficking’ to Holland by way of Chelsea kids being switched to Vitesse.
Which means Vitesse are in a financial pickle and requiring funds, with the likes of Manhoef a prize asset with which to get some.
Hence they have loaned in Mazilu from the Premier League in Manhoef’s position, freeing him up for a sale.
Rangers are still monitoring that one, a right winger being high up on the club’s wish list. Manhoef has been sitting on the radar for some time, but Vitesse were clearly unable to move him on till a replacement was found.
That’s been done now, and they need all the funds they can get.
Can Rangers get this guy for sub-£3M?
Possibly. Maybe even less.
Vitesse need cash and Rangers hold the cards here.
We’ll see if this one gets over the line soon.