NafisaRangers handed Mikey Moore transfer blow as Tottenham youngster closes in on Bundesliga move
Rangers have been dealt another setback in their efforts to strengthen Derek McInnes’ attacking options, with Mikey Moore now closing in on a move away from Tottenham Hotspur.
The Ibrox side had been hopeful of bringing the 18-year-old back to Glasgow after his impressive spell with Rangers last season, when Moore quickly became a popular figure among supporters.
McInnes remains keen to add further quality in wide areas despite the recent arrival of Daisuke Yokota, with the Rangers boss understood to still be searching for another winger capable of making an immediate impact.
Moore had emerged as an attractive option because of his previous experience at Ibrox and his familiarity with the club, but Rangers now appear to be running out of time to revive the possibility of another loan spell.
The latest development comes after Tottenham revived plans to send the teenager to Germany.
Mikey Moore set for Bundesliga move
Rangers were given a glimmer of hope earlier this week when Moore’s proposed move to Koln was reportedly put on hold.
That appeared to create a potential opening for the Gers to make another attempt to convince Tottenham and the player that a return to Glasgow would be the best option.
Moore subsequently featured for Spurs in their pre-season friendly against Getafe, giving new head coach Roberto De Zerbi an opportunity to assess the youngster before making a decision on his immediate future.
However, Rangers have seemingly been unable to take advantage of that situation.
Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has now provided a major update, reporting that Koln have reached a full agreement with Tottenham for Moore.
The youngster has also given the green light to the move, with the proposed transfer set to be a straightforward loan without a buy option.
The only remaining step is understood to be final approval from De Zerbi before the move can be officially completed.
That leaves Rangers facing the reality that Moore is unlikely to return to Ibrox this summer.
It will be a disappointing outcome for supporters who had hoped to see the England youth international back in the famous blue shirt, particularly after the impact he made during his previous spell.
But McInnes cannot afford to dwell on the disappointment.
Rangers already preparing for life without Moore
The positive for Rangers is that they have already been working on alternative options.
McInnes has made no secret of his desire to add more attacking quality to his squad, with Daisuke Yokota already through the door and PSV winger Couhaib Driouech continuing to feature prominently on the club’s radar.
The pursuit of Driouech could now become even more important following the latest Moore development.
Rangers have reportedly returned with an improved offer for the Moroccan winger as they attempt to beat competition from Celta Vigo and Burnley.
PSV have already rejected an initial offer believed to have been worth around £6million, but the Rangers hierarchy have not abandoned their interest.
Driouech’s situation has also become increasingly interesting.
The 24-year-old was recently left out of PSV’s squad for their match against Fortuna Sittard amid growing uncertainty over his future, potentially giving interested clubs an opportunity to push forward with negotiations.
Rangers are believed to be prepared to improve their proposal as they attempt to give McInnes the attacking reinforcement he has been demanding.
Couhaib Driouech could soften the blow
There is no doubt that Moore would have been an exciting addition for Rangers.
The teenager already knows the club, understands the demands of playing at Ibrox and demonstrated during his previous spell that he can handle the pressure that comes with representing one of Scotland’s biggest clubs.
His ability to operate from the left would also have given McInnes another option in a system where wide players can play an important role.
But if Rangers can complete a deal for Driouech, the disappointment surrounding Moore could quickly disappear.
Driouech brings considerably more senior experience and has already demonstrated his ability to contribute goals and assists at a high level in the Netherlands.
Rangers’ need for attacking reinforcements has become increasingly obvious following the opening weeks of the campaign, and McInnes will want the squad to look considerably stronger before the transfer window closes.
With Moore seemingly heading to Germany and Driouech still available, the next few days could prove crucial.
Rangers may have missed out on one familiar face, but they now have the opportunity to turn their attention towards a new attacking target who could become an important part of McInnes’ plans.
The message from Ibrox is therefore fairly simple: forget Moore, and get Driouech over the line.
Nafisa
