PSV boss Peter Bosz has admitted he was "surprised" to see Couhaib Driouech's move to Rangers fall apart, insisting a deal was "settled". The Light Blues had lined up a £7million deal for the Moroccan winger after Derek McInnes called for club chiefs to bolster his options in wide areas.
The 24-year-old was in the stands for Rangers' Europa League exit at the hands of Jagiellonia Bialystok on Thursday. Sources have told Record Sport that the attacker is carrying a slight injury, and Rangers bosses were concerned the knock would keep him out for a key period of time.
Bosz's Surprise and Reintegration Plan
That sparked the collapse of the deal, but Bosz insists that every aspect of the deal was ironed out. Speaking ahead of the clash with Excelsior this weekend, the gaffer was asked about the veto: "Of course that was a surprise. The clubs had reached an agreement. I had fully assumed he was gone. Because I thought everything was settled. But I heard it just after training."
He revealed he plans to hold a summit with the player as he looks to welcome him back into the picture in Eindhoven. He added: "We need to get him back on his feet in a very short time, but that won't be possible before tomorrow. I haven't had any further contact with him, so I don't know when he will be back. In a situation like this, you sit down with him, talk, and listen."
Rangers' Stance and Medical Reports
Dutch outlet Eindhovens Dagblad claim that following the medical in Manchester, the wide man was "declared fit for the long term" and "that wasn't the issue at all" for Rangers. It is claimed that the Glasgow giants then changed their stance and "believed he needed more time to get up to speed and wanted a reinforcement who could make an immediate impact."
It is claimed the club "no longer wanted to honour the deal" struck by Grétar Steinsson and Dan Purdy, and that the Dutch champions viewed this as an "absurd stance". The final word came from owner Andrew Cavenagh to pull the plug on a move, despite the verbal agreement.
Bosz's Message to Driouech
Bosz concluded: "In any case, my message is that he is one of my players again, that we have to win matches together, and I need his help with that too. I understand very well that it is a huge disappointment. That is allowed, I get that, but it has to go away, and preferably as soon as possible. Only then will he be available again."
