Rangers linked to former Ajax youngster Danilho Doekhi, but face EPL rivals in Dutch defender transfer move

Rangers are tracking Vitesse Arnhem defender Danilho Doekhi and are preparing a three year contract, according to reports in Holland.

The Eredivisie defender is a former youth graduate from FC Excelsior and the Jong Ajax Academy at De Toekomst and is highly rated at the fourth placed club in the Dutch league.

Vitesse have conceded just 28 goals in 30 games – a defensive record which has elevated them from seventh last year and head coach Thomas Letsch rates Doekhi as ‘one of the best defenders in the league’.

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The 22-year-old has featured 33 times this season but has one year remaining on a four-year contract and is being trailed by several English Premier League clubs, but Rangers lead the chase with a three-year deal being prepared according to Dutch paper De Gelderlander.

Arnhem's Danilho Doekhi   (Photo credit: THOMAS BAKKER/AFP via Getty Images)Arnhem's Danilho Doekhi   (Photo credit: THOMAS BAKKER/AFP via Getty Images)
Arnhem's Danilho Doekhi (Photo credit: THOMAS BAKKER/AFP via Getty Images)

Fulham and Newcastle United are also said to be keen on taking the right sided centre-back to the English top flight to bolster their back-lines next season after a campaign fighting relegation and conceding 43 and 54 goals respectively.

Rangers however can offer Champions League football to prospective signings, and will also face competition from newly-promoted Norwich City for the defender’s signature.

The shared interest of the Canaries and Magpies doesn’t end there and both clubs are also said to be rivals over another signature – but it’s doubtful Rangers would make it a three-way chase.

Norwich and Newcastle are believed to be the front-runners for a transfer involving Celtic’s Norwegian international defender Kris Ajer who was also linked with AC Milan earlier this season.

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