NafisaRangers have been dealt another frustrating blow in their pursuit of attacking reinforcements, with their hopes of signing Couhaib Driouech now hanging by a thread.
The Gers had identified the PSV Eindhoven winger as one of their priority targets as Derek McInnes looks to add more creativity and quality to his attacking options before the transfer window closes.
However, the latest developments have left Rangers facing a major problem.
The 24-year-old Moroccan reportedly favours a move to La Liga, with Celta Vigo now emerging as his preferred destination.
That news will come as a huge disappointment to Rangers, who had already gone as far as submitting an opening bid for the winger.
The Ibrox hierarchy offered €7.5million for Driouech, only for PSV to reject the proposal as they continue to demand somewhere between €8million and €8.5million.
With the financial gap relatively small, Rangers had been expected to return with an improved offer.
Instead, the situation has become considerably more complicated.
Rangers dealt major Driouech blow
Rangers had previously received encouragement that Driouech was open to moving to Glasgow.
The club’s interest in the winger was not new either, with the Gers having pursued him during the 2024 summer transfer window before he eventually joined PSV.
After adding Daisuke Yokota this summer, Rangers returned to the player as they looked to strengthen their options out wide.
For a period, there was genuine optimism that McInnes could get his man.
But Celta Vigo’s intervention has completely changed the picture.
According to Africafoot, Driouech now ‘favours a move to La Liga’, with the Spanish club believed to be his preferred destination.
The winger reportedly considers the Spanish top flight to be better suited to his technical profile and sporting ambitions.
That preference could prove decisive.
Even if Rangers agree PSV’s asking price, they would still have to convince Driouech that Scotland is the right destination for him.
Celta Vigo, meanwhile, can offer him the opportunity to play in La Liga — something that appears to be increasingly important to the player.
Derek McInnes faces another transfer headache
The latest development will be particularly frustrating for McInnes because Rangers urgently need more attacking quality.
The manager has already made it clear that his squad is not finished, with further additions required in both attacking and defensive areas.
Driouech was viewed as a player capable of immediately improving Rangers’ options on the flank.
His pace, technical ability and creativity would have given McInnes another weapon in the final third.
Instead, Rangers could now be forced to look elsewhere.
The Gers have already endured a difficult opening to the season, drawing 1-1 with Dundee United before suffering a 2-1 defeat against Jagiellonia Bialystok in the first leg of their Europa League qualifier.
Those results have only intensified the need for reinforcements.
Rangers cannot afford to spend too long chasing a player who may ultimately prefer another destination.
Fares Ghedjemis also becoming complicated
Driouech is not the only winger on Rangers’ radar who could prove difficult to land.
Fares Ghedjemis has also been heavily linked with a move to Ibrox, but that pursuit has its own complications.
Monaco are reportedly pushing to sign the Algerian, meaning Rangers could once again face serious competition for one of their preferred targets.
That leaves McInnes with a difficult situation to navigate.
The Rangers manager needs more quality, but several of his preferred options are becoming increasingly difficult to secure.
For now, PSV remain open to selling Driouech at the right price.
The bigger problem for Rangers is whether the player himself still wants the move.
With the winger reportedly favouring La Liga and Celta Vigo pushing to take advantage, Rangers may need something special to turn the situation around.
After an already frustrating start to the season, another transfer disappointment would be the last thing McInnes wanted.
Nafisa
