Rangers have been accused of taking a 'nonsensical position' after abruptly pulling out of an €8m deal for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Couhaib Driouech. The 24-year-old was at Ibrox on Thursday for a medical, but a dispute over his immediate match readiness led to the transfer collapsing on Friday. PSV are furious, with Dutch media reporting a 'major dispute' between the clubs. League standing: 9th in Premiership, 1 pts, 0W-1D-1L from 2 games, recent form LD.
What happened in the failed transfer?
Driouech travelled to Scotland 'full of optimism' after Rangers and PSV agreed terms. He passed a medical in Manchester and was cleared fit long-term, but Rangers then claimed he wasn’t immediately match-ready. PSV argued he could play in the short term, calling Rangers’ stance 'nonsensical'. The €8m deal fell through after the club’s owner intervened, overriding directors who had already struck a verbal agreement.
Why is PSV so angry?
PSV had expected the transfer to go through, with Driouech set to bring in much-needed funds. This is the latest in a string of collapsed deals for the Dutch side, including Ricardo Pepi, Armando Obispo and Adamo Nagalo. The club had hoped to raise around €55m from sales, but now faces uncertainty. Rangers’ last-minute withdrawal has left PSV frustrated and Driouech in limbo.
What’s next for Rangers?
With the transfer off, Rangers must now look elsewhere to strengthen their squad. They currently sit 5 points behind leaders Celtic and have a tough away fixture against 8th-placed Aberdeen on August 30. Manager Derek McInnes had wanted Driouech as a ready-made replacement, but the club will now need to find another option. Currently sidelined players Ben Godfrey, José Cifuentes and Youssef Chermiti remain unavailable.
