Rangers’ transfer interest in a highly rated defender is addressed by potential Champions League opponents.

Rangers’ transfer interest in a highly rated defender is addressed by potential Champions League opponents.

Rangers have not made a formal approach to sign FC Twente defender Mees Hilgers, despite online rumors claiming they were’seriously interested’ in a summer swoop. Speculation over a transfer proposal submitted by Gers officials to land the talented 23-year-old center-back from their possible Champions League opponents emerged on social media in recent days. However, the Dutch club’s technical director Arnold Bruggink has indicated that no concrete offers have been made.

According to reports, TC Tubantia reporter Leon ten Voorde ‘enquired’ about possible interest in the once-capped Netherlands Under-21 international, and Bruggink revealed that he had received no contact from the Glasgow giants following FC Twente’s 2-2 pre-season friendly draw against Scottish Premiership outfit Motherwell last Friday.

Hilgers, who played against the Steelmen, is a frequent starter for Twente, having made 33 appearances last season. He first joined the club’s junior system in 2011 from fourth-tier Sparta Nijkerk, before signing his first professional deal seven years later. It is said that he is currently ‘on the radar’ of multiple clubs during the transfer window, although no bids have yet been submitted.

Any potential deal would come at a price with Hilgers putting pen to paper on a new contract last year, extending his stay at Twente until the summer of 2026. A substantial transfer fee would be required to prize him away from the club, but the Dutch outfit already have possible successors in mind should the player opt to continue his development elsewhere.

Gers boss Philippe Clement vowed over the weekend there will be experienced recruits brought in to aid his revamped first-team squad before the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership campaign gets underway. The Belgian has already landed five signings this summer with Jefte, Oscar Cortes, Clinton Nsiala, Connor Barron and Liam Kelly joining the club during the off-season.

“We had five players going out of the club at the end of their contract and we didn’t get any money in,” Clement told me. “We lost five players, but it was simpler to bring in young guys for the time being, but there will be experienced players coming in, and we need a fair mix of both in the group. It was critical to identify these young talents, and I believe we found some promising ones for the future of our team. They are prepared to play a few minutes in the beginning, but certainly in the coming years.”

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