Rangers have made an approach for Feyenoord manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst in a stunning twist to their search for a new manager, according to Transfer Market Web.
The football site claim that the Scottish giants have made contact with the Dutchman, 42, and that a “chance may develop in the coming days” for him to take the Ibrox reins.
This comes after the odds were slashed on Wednesday on Van Bronckhorst replacing Pedro Caixinha in the Rangers dugout.
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has been the hot favourite for the vacant post since Caixinha was sacked and there have been reports that he will be appointed by the weekend.
Van Bronckhorst, who spent three trophy-laden years at Rangers from 1998 before joining Arsenal for £12million, had been a rank outsider to succeed Caixinha but he has leapfrogged previous second favourite Graeme Murty in the betting.
The 42-year-old is currently in charge of Feyenoord, who he guided to the Eredivisie title last season in what was the Dutch side’s first league success in 18 years.
But Feyenoord languish sixth in the table after a poor start – 12 points behind leaders PSV – and are bottom of their Champions League group after four consecutive defeats.
The former Holland international who won 106 caps for his country, claimed two titles, two Scottish Cups and a League Cup under Dick Advocaat in Glasgow.
OPINION
There would be dancing in the streets of the blue half of Glasgow if Van Bronckhorst was appointed the club’s new manager. A bona fide Ibrox great, he was an outstanding player and has made the leap into a top-class manager. In two full seasons at Feyenoord, his first managerial post, GVB, as he is known to the Rangers faithful, has won the Dutch Cup and steered the club to their first league title in 18 years ahead of big guns Ajax and PSV Eindhoven. Reports that the Light Blues have made an approach for him will excite fans, but they believe it is somewhat far-fetched given that the former left-back already has a plum job.