Godwin ObajeRobin Pröpper’s Rangers Future in Doubt as FC Twente Express Open Door for Return
FC Twente technical director Jan Streuer has rubbished suggestions that the Eredivisie club are no longer interested in bringing Robin Pröpper back to Enschede, as the Dutch centre-back prepares for talks over his future with Rangers.
Pröpper, 30, returned to pre-season training at Auchenhowie on Monday as new Ibrox boss Russell Martin began assessing his squad. But after a frustrating debut season in Glasgow, plagued by injury and inconsistency, the defender’s future remains uncertain.
Despite speculation that Twente had cooled their interest amid a move for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Israeli international Stav Lemkin, Streuer has made it clear the door remains open for Pröpper to return to his homeland.
Speaking to RTV Oost, Streuer said: “I’m not saying that at all. We were interested in Pröpper and he is very welcome.
“He was also very welcome at the Rangers training today. Of course he still has a contract there.
“We’ll wait and see. There was a lot of pressure on him to come back.
“We’ll wait and see, he has to be one hundred percent behind it himself.
“We hope he can come, that’s not entirely certain yet. We have to wait and see. It’s what I say: He’s very welcome with us.”
Pröpper’s situation comes as Russell Martin begins shaping his squad ahead of a pivotal few weeks, with Champions League qualifiers fast approaching. The Rangers boss is already closing in on a loan deal for Bournemouth’s Max Aarons and remains keen on securing Leicester City veteran Conor Coady.
However, before sanctioning new arrivals, Martin is also focused on taking stock of his inherited options. Sources close to the club suggest individual meetings are planned with fringe players, including Pröpper, to determine whether they still fit within his vision for the team.
FC Twente, meanwhile, are in the market for defensive reinforcements following Gustaf Lagerbielke’s return to Celtic at the end of his loan spell. While Lemkin’s move from Shakhtar is believed to be close, Streuer’s comments make it clear the club are willing to add multiple central defenders if the opportunity arises.
Pröpper, who arrived at Rangers last summer, has struggled to establish himself at the heart of defence, making just 18 appearances in all competitions. Though the Dutchman still has time left on his contract, both player and club are expected to explore options in the coming weeks, with a return to the Netherlands firmly on the table.
As Rangers weigh up their next steps, Pröpper’s situation could become one of several key calls in a summer where Martin aims to rebuild both morale and structure at Ibrox.
Whether the Dutch defender remains part of that rebuild—or returns to more familiar surroundings in the Eredivisie—may depend on how those forthcoming discussions unfold.
Godwin Obaje
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