‘Just not performing’: Rangers may have got lucky escape with £6m man in ‘poor’ form

Rangers’ lackluster performance at FC Twente does not imply that the out-of-sorts Dutchman should have been brought to the Scottish Premiership in the winter transfer window.

The left-back was still enjoying the success of his outstanding 2022–23 season when he was linked to a move to Ibrox more than a month ago. Gijs Smal finished the Eredivisie with ten assists, more than any other player.

Ridvan Yilmaz appeared certain to leave at the time as well; after failing to unseat Borna Barisic at Ibrox, the Turkey international appeared free to go. When we fast-forward to late February, both players’ circumstances have significantly changed.

One of Rangers’ best players since the Christmas break has been Yilmaz. So much so that it was unexpected when Philippe Clement shuffled his pack for Sunday’s 3-0 victory at St Johnstone, bringing back Barisic.

But when FC Twente’s dull 1-0 home loss to Utrecht ended with Gijs Smal being hauled off after just 65 minutes, there were far fewer shocked looks in Enschede.

Gijs Smal finds it difficult to defend Rangers’ interest.

Smal has not scored or assisted on a goal in 2023–24, despite registering 14 goals or assists in the previous season.

Even though Smal did miss the first part of the season due to a calf injury, he has now returned to first-team action for four months. It is no longer acceptable to use a lack of match fitness as an excuse; the Twente Inside website calls his current form “poor.”

With his contract expiring and the Dutchman doing little to warrant an offer of new terms, the once-£6 million-rated Smal is now facing the possibility of being moved out of De Grolsch Veste for no reason, according to Leon ten Voorde, a Dutch reporter who specializes in all things FC Twente.

Ten Voorde tells TC Tubantia, “After his injury, Small deserves a lot of credit.” “However, you have to watch your step if you don’t want to resign, if you’re simply not playing, and if another left-back was brought in during the winter break.”

The competition for Smal now comes from Anass Salah-Eddine. Prior to moving from Ajax to Twente in January, he was also connected to Rangers.

Ten Voorde continues, “You can consider, ‘Maybe we should definitely be looking at someone else,’ if you don’t want to resign and you are not performing.”

A Borna Barisic substitute is still required.

Rangers will probably look to add a new left-back again in the summer since Barisic’s deal expires in July. Right now, every indication suggests that Philippe Clement’s team will try again to entice Jefte Vital to move from Fluminense to Glasgow.

It almost goes without saying that more performances like the one he put on against Utrecht would do Smal no favors if he is to challenge Jefte for the role of Rangers’ first-choice left-back target.

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