Rangers and Celtic have been linked with the ‘next Paulo Maldini’ as a £6 million left-back is available for a bargain transfer.

According to reports in Italy, the impressive left-back has been linked with Old Firm.

Rangers have been linked with a move for a Dutch left-back compared to Paolo Maldini, just weeks after he was linked with a move to Celtic.

Every now and then, Celtic and Rangers are able to sign a cheap player who goes on to achieve great things in football; Gennaro Gattuso, Henrik Larsson, Virgil van Dijk, and so on. And, while there haven’t been many in recent years, the standing and reputation of the two Glaswegian giants always allows for top footballers to be linked with a move to the second city as a result of their exploits on the pitch.
With defensive reinforcements required for both clubs if they are to improve their standing in European football, both clubs generally look to the European market to find potential bargains and increase their value on the domestic scene.
And, according to reports in the Netherlands, Ibrox is a possible destination for FC Twente left-back Gijs Smal, who has been dubbed ‘the new Maldini’.
Smal’s contract expires in the summer, but with Borna Barisic getting older and the jury still out on Ridvan Yilmaz, there could be a vacancy in the left-back ranks for Smal to fill, alongside Verona’s Josh Doig, who has been linked with a’swap deal’ for Yilmaz.

‘Smaldini,’ as he has been nicknamed due to his resemblance to AC Milan legend Paolo, joined Twente at the age of 23 and racked up an impressive 10 assists for the former Eredivisie champions last season.

He was valued at £6 million last season but will leave on a free transfer in the summer, though if a club pays a fee this month, they will be able to sign him before competition, which Twente transfer chief Arnold Bruggink has opened up about.

Given Bernabei’s poor start to life in the green and white shirt, Celtic were linked with a move last month, though he would have to compete for game time with Greg Taylor.

“Of course, we would love it if Gijs signed a new contract with us,” he said. But both parties must want it. And, unfortunately, we must be realistic about that aspect of his future.”

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