Feyenoord midfielder Renato Tapia edged closer to a potential move to Rangers after the Peruvian international bid a fond farewell to the Dutch giants.
Speaking to Feyenoord TV (reported by Glasgow Live), Tapia left fans in no doubt that he would not be playing for the Rotterdam side again having moved to the Netherlands as a fresh faced 17-year old.
“It has been a great trip in the Netherlands
“I grew up here and continue with a good feeling. Playing in De Kuip was always great.
“I will definitely miss that. Just like the guys I’ve known for a while. It will be weird not to be with them in one field and in the same dressing room anymore.
“The farewell is going to get emotional, although I know I’m going to see them again.
“What does the future hold? We will see.”
Steven Gerrard is definitely on the look out for a midfielder of Tapia’s ilk, a player with a physicality that matches his technical ability, think the early form of Lassana Coulibaly at Rangers before he got injured and was never the same again.
Tapia’s father was the source of the initial link to the Ibrox club and in true transfer rumour fashion, Old Firm rivals Celtic were also credited with an interest – at the last count Lyndon Dykes, Lyle Taylor, Ivan Toney and now the 53-times capped Peru international are players that the big guns from Glasgow are battling it out for – allegedly.
Gerrard has already made decent inroads into his squad for next season with the permanent addition of Ianis Hagi and the signing of Calvin Bassey from Leicester City, a physical midfielder and another striker remain the most obvious requirements still to be signed.
Ross Wilson has impressed so far with his transfer business and he should be trusted to do what is best for the club, after all, he did manage to get a transfer fee for Eros Grezda and got Eduardo Herrera off the wage bill without it costing the club, changed days indeed.