PSV Eindhoven have blocked Cody Gakpo’s exit ahead of facing Rangers in the Champions League qualifier, according to the Daily Record.
The 23-year-old is attracting a lot of interest from the Premier League with Leeds United, Manchester United and Arsenal keen to sign the Dutch Footballer of the Year for the 2021-22 season.
Gakpo really found his feet last season with 21 goals in all competitions and he started the new campaign with a brace as PSV beat FC Emmen 4-1 in the Eredivisie.
But even if they sell the Dutch international for the right price, it won’t be until they face Rangers for a place in the Champions League group stage.
Gakpo was made aware of the news immediately after the current Dutch Cup holders beat Ligue 1 side AS Monaco in extra time while the Light Blues came back from two goals down to beat Belgium’s Royal Saint Union Gilloise .
Bring it on
It almost looks like Ruud van Nistelrooy is already worried about the famed Gers and his ability to regularly shock the continent as he tries to retain his top scorer.
Should he leave Eindhoven before the draw, goals could be hard to come by for PSV and with the atmosphere at Ibrox poised to engulf anyone unprepared for the challenge, it would completely derail his intentions.
So it’s no surprise that they want to keep him if they can and his own desire to play Champions League football could even see him stay longer than the next two weeks.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst would obviously have preferred Gakpo not to be available to play, but they have come up against some of Europe’s top talent in the past and beaten them.
Last season’s run to the Europa League final should give the Bears all the confidence they need to step out and do it all again on the big stage.
In other Rangers news, St Johnstone fans could boycott this weekend’s game at Ibrox as a group of fans publicly castigate the Ibrox club.