When it rains, it pours at Ibrox, with new Glasgow Rangers boss Derek McInnes still without a win in four games in charge, having been dumped out of the Europa League in midweek.
McInnes, not least for his half-time meddling, isn’t blameless for these recent woes, but the problems go far deeper and wider. This is a team that’s lost five of their last seven Premiership games, stretching back to last season, winning just once.
There’s been so much churn, so much upheaval in the playing squad, with it no wonder that the experienced Scot is struggling to find a sense of consistency and continuity.
What looked like efficient, impressive business is quickly coming under scrutiny, with the debacle surrounding PSV Eindhoven’s Couhaib Driouech throwing another spanner in the works.
Why Rangers’ move for Driouech has collapsed
The jokes almost write themselves at times, with Driouech pictured watching on at Ibrox on Thursday night, only to then see his move fall apart the following morning.
Having witnessed the Gers crash out of the Europa League at the hands of Jagellonia, the initial feeling might have been that the Moroccan had simply done a runner, as McInnes’ men yet again failed to win a game this season.
And yet, as it has transpired, it would appear that it is the Old Firm side who are responsible for the collapse, having pulled out of their agreement amid concerns over the winger’s injury status.
A £7m switch had appeared imminent, yet the Light Blues have had a change of heart, even with Driouech seemingly only set to be sidelined for a matter of weeks.
That expected absence was enough for Andrew Cavenagh and co to pull the plug, however, with McInnes having reiterated his desire to sign players who can make an immediate impact.
Considering the club’s current predicament, following a dismal start to the campaign under the ex-Hearts boss, there is merit in that approach, particularly when factoring in the size of Driouech’s transfer fee.
And yet, this whole farce will surely only delay Rangers’ search for reinforcements, ensuring they may have to fall back on prior targets before the window slams shut.
How Rangers can quickly move on from Driouech debacle
It feels like one thing after another right now at Ibrox, with the news of Youssef Chermiti’s ACL blow epitomising what has been a dour few weeks in Glasgow.
Even before the Portuguese’s setback, the Gers’ need for new faces was evident, with a sense of urgency now required with just over two weeks until the deadline.
A bid has been made for Portland Timbers striker, Kevin Kelsy, while there could also be some movement in the club’s pursuit of summer target Camilo Mena.
As per Rangers News, there is a high likelihood of a deal going ahead for the Colombian, should Rangers return to the negotiating table, with Mena said to be ‘keen’ on making the move to Ibrox.
Valued at just over £3m, the 23-year-old had been linked previously, before the Premiership side shifted toward the likes of Daisuke Yokota and the aforementioned Driouech.
With that latter deal now off the table, pursuing Mena might well be a wise decision, particularly considering his sparkling form across 2025/26 for Polish outfit, Lechia Gdansk.
While the club did suffer relegation into the second tier, it was a standout Ekstraklasa season for the right-winger, as he scored five goals and assisted a further eight from the flanks.
A real creative weapon, the South American also created 13 ‘big chances’ and averaged a stellar 1.6 key passes per game, a fine return considering he started 31 league games.
He’s a real all-rounder, as last term showcased, having also averaged 1.9 successful dribbles per game, alongside winning six total duels per game on average. In terms of total successful dribbles, Mena led the way in the division with 60.
Now, let’s compare that to what Driouech achieved back in the Netherlands, with his three Champions League goals perhaps overshadowing a more muted Eredivisie season.
The left-footer’s tally of ten goals and assists from five starts is creditable, but that is still below Mena’s tally of 13, while he also only created seven ‘big chances’.
In terms of successful dribbles and key passes, the 24-year-old averaged just 0.3 and 0.7 in that regard, while he only won 1.5 total duels per appearance.
|
Mena vs Driouech – 25/26 League Stats |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Mena |
Stat (*per game) |
Driouech |
|
31 (31) |
Games (starts) |
29 (5) |
|
5 |
Goals |
4 |
|
4 |
Big chances missed |
5 |
|
8 |
Assists |
6 |
|
13 |
Big chances created |
7 |
|
1.6 |
Key passes* |
0.7 |
|
83% |
Pass accuracy* |
79% |
|
1.9 |
Succ. dribbles* |
0.3 |
|
2.3 |
Tackles & interceptions* |
0.73 |
|
6.0 |
Total duels won* |
1.5 |
In 2024/25, meanwhile, the PSV man didn’t start a single league game, scoring and assisting only three goals, with Rangers likely to have been banking on what he showcased at former club Excelsior, after chalking 12 goals and assists in 2023/24.
In Mena’s case, he’s a man in form and a man with real momentum behind him, having also racked up 12 goal involvements in Poland’s top flight in 2024/25.
For context, the Ekstraklasa is viewed as the 12th best league in the world, as per Global Football Rankings, only one place behind the Eredivisie, with Mena comfortably outperforming his PSV counterpart for two seasons now in a relatively well-matched league.
Moving for the Lechia Gdansk man, particularly for a fee of around £3m, might be the perfect way for Rangers to put this Driouech saga behind them.
