Rangers have pulled out of a £7million deal for PSV Eindhoven winger Couhaib Driouech after the Moroccan failed his medical, with a scan uncovering a small thigh muscle tear. The decision has stunned the Dutch club, whose chiefs insist the 24-year-old could be back in action within a week.
Medical results scupper move
Ibrox manager Derek McInnes had expected Driouech to become his 10th signing of the summer, and even welcomed the player to Glasgow for Thursday night's Europa League clash with Jagiellonia Bialystok. However, as Driouech was pictured with fans at Ibrox, the transfer was collapsing after Rangers received the results of his medical exams in Manchester.
Record Sport understands the scan revealed a small thigh muscle tear expected to keep Driouech out for only a short period, but Rangers decided they could not afford to wait. The news has devastated Driouech, who had already agreed to a four-year contract.
PSV dispute the diagnosis
PSV director Earnest Stewart expressed surprise at the decision. He said: "In short, we believed that Couhaib would be fit again very soon. He had suffered a minor injury and, in our opinion, would be able to play matches again within a week, or at least very soon."
Record Sport understands Rangers were informed Driouech would face around a six-week layoff. Stewart added: "They estimate the period he will be unable to play to be much longer than we do. From what I understood, six weeks. So we think it is considerably shorter."
Stewart described Driouech as "really upset" and "a disillusioned player" returning to the club. He noted the player was "left in uncertainty for 48 hours" and that "everything was also postponed by a day."
Impact on Rangers
The collapsed deal is another blow for McInnes, whose side have failed to win their first four games, leaving them five points adrift in the title race and heading to the Conference League after a 3-2 aggregate loss to Jagiellonia. The clubs briefly discussed a season-long loan, but Stewart confirmed: "This was going to be a permanent transfer, and that was not on the table."
Rangers are also dealing with striker Youssef Chermiti being ruled out for the season and injuries to defenders Ben Godfrey and Tuur Rommens. Former Hearts full-back James Penrice arrived from AEK Athens on Thursday to help address the defensive crisis.
