Glasgow Rangers are closing in on a much-needed attacking addition for their squad after they lost 2-1 in the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox on Sunday.
The Light Blues have agreed a four-year contract with PSV winger Couhaib Driouech, a matter of hours after they were beaten by Hibernian in front of their own supporters.
Derek McInnes’ side are now on the verge of completing a deal to sign the Moroccan forward for a fee of around £7m to bolster the manager’s options at the top end of the pitch.
The 24-year-old will now have to complete a medical and other formalities before the Scottish giants can officially unveil him as their latest summer signing.
Where Couhaib Driouech will fit in at Rangers
McInnes has varied between a 4-4-1-1, a 4-3-3, and a 4-4-2 throughout his first three matches in charge of the Light Blues, playing a 4-4-2 more than not, including in the loss to Hibernian.
This suggests that the Scottish manager is going to use a 4-4-2 for the majority of this season, unless he makes a drastic change to his ideas, and Driouech will have to slot into that system.
The Dutch-born star is an out-and-out wide player who has played on the left or the right flank for the vast majority of his club career, typically playing on the left side of the attack.
|
Couhaib Driouech’s club career |
|
|---|---|
|
Position |
Games |
|
LW |
119 |
|
RW |
56 |
|
AM |
4 |
|
SS |
2 |
|
RB |
2 |
|
CF |
1 |
|
LM |
1 |
|
RM |
1 |
His career to date suggests that he will fit in on the left of McInnes’ 4-4-2 system, which makes sense given that the Gers recently signed Daisuke Yokota to operate on the right wing.
This means that the Light Blues could line up with two left-footed wingers, in Yokota and Driouech, after they spent much of last season with two right-footed players, Djeidi Gassama and Mikey Moore, in those roles.
Rangers in talks to sign more creative player than Driouech
The Moroccan talent, however, may not be the only left-footed talent to arrive at Ibrox in the coming weeks, as the club are looking to bring in another player on that side of the pitch.
According to Greek outlet Sport24, Glasgow Rangers are pursuing a deal to sign AEK Athens left-back James Penrice before the end of the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the 49ers are currently locked in talks with the Greek side to bring the Scottish star to Ibrox, and that they have already had two offers turned down.
It adds that the Light Blues are attempting to sign the defender on loan with an option to buy, but AEK are currently wanting a larger loan fee from them for the player they paid £2m to sign from Hearts last year.
Sport24 also reveals that the Gers are not giving up on a deal for the 27-year-old talent and that they could go in with another loan offer to secure his services.
If the club can get a move over the line for Penrice, the former Hearts star could arrive in Glasgow as an even more creative option than Driouech down the left flank, based on his previous form in the Premiership.
|
24/25 Premiership |
James Penrice |
Rank vs LBs |
|---|---|---|
|
Chances created |
56 |
Top 7% |
|
Big chances created |
14 |
Top 7% |
|
xA |
6.07 |
Top 9% |
|
Successful crosses |
69 |
Top 5% |
|
Assists |
5 |
Top 14% |
|
Touches in opposition’s box |
58 |
Top 14% |
The Scottish star racked up an eye-catching 14 ‘big chances’ created and 6.07 xA in the Premiership in his last season with Hearts before making the move to Greece last year.
Penrice then produced 2.45 xA in 16 league starts for AEK Athens in the Super League in the 2025/26 campaign, ranking in the top 10% of left-backs in the division.
He has the quality to be an incredibly creative player from a left-back position, providing passes and crosses to create high-quality opportunities for his teammates in the final third.
The Scottish ace has the ability to be an even more creative force than Driouech down the left side if they play alongside each other at Ibrox, based on the winger’s recent form for PSV.
In the 2024/25 and 2025/26 campaigns combined, the £7m-rated attacker created eight ‘big chances’ and racked up 3.16 xA in 44 appearances in the Eredivisie.
Penrice created more than twice as many ‘big chances’ and almost twice as much xA in his season for Hearts, let alone what he then produced during his time in Greece last season.
Therefore, the AEK Athens full-back could be an exciting addition to the squad if they can get a loan deal over the line, as he could add another dimension to the attack with his crosses from a left-back berth.
