Rangers Football Club is edging closer to securing the signing of Feyenoord forward Danilo for the upcoming season, according to a report in the Daily Record. The negotiations are being led by Chief Executive James Bisgrove, as the Scottish club looks to bolster its attacking options. With a successful campaign at Feyenoord, where Danilo contributed ten goals and three assists en route to winning the Eredivisie title, the 24-year-old Brazilian has emerged as one of Michael Beale’s top transfer targets this summer.
While both clubs have been engaged in discussions, they have yet to agree on a transfer fee for Danilo. Feyenoord is reportedly seeking a sum of at least £6 million, as they navigate the challenges presented by their return to the prestigious Champions League tournament. The situation has been further complicated by Feyenoord manager Arne Slot’s desire to reinforce his own attacking options ahead of the club’s European campaign. The absence of their first-choice striker, Santiago Giminez, due to a suspension for the opening two group games, has left Slot reluctant to part with Danilo until he finds suitable cover.
Keith Jackson, the reporter who initially linked Danilo with Rangers, sheds light on the intricacies of the deal, stating, “Talks have become even more complex as Feyenoord boss Arne Slot is desperate to beef up his own attacking options ahead of the club’s return to European football’s elite. Slot’s current first-choice striker, Mexican international Santiago Giminez, will be suspended for the opening two group games – a ban which has left the manager scrambling for cover and reluctant to let Danilo leave until he gets it.”
Rangers struggled in the goalscoring department last season, falling behind their arch-rivals Celtic. To rectify this, the club has made significant moves to bolster their strike force by signing Sam Lammers from Atalanta and Cyriel Dessers from Cremonese. The potential addition of Danilo further emphasizes their ambition to generate more goals. The forward’s impressive record of 10 league goals in just 14 starts last season, despite primarily featuring as a substitute after the World Cup break, showcases his potency in front of goal. It is worth noting, however, that only two of his league goals came in the latter half of the campaign, both of which were scored in a single victory against FC Emmen in May.
Rangers’ other forward signings from last season did not display remarkable scoring rates, underscoring the need for guaranteed goals if they aspire to catch up to Celtic in the upcoming season. Despite the potential risks associated with a reported transfer fee of around £6 million, Danilo’s track record suggests he is a gamble worth taking. His goal-scoring prowess and experience in European competitions make him an enticing prospect for Rangers as they aim to challenge for silverware.