PSV director explains why Driouech to Rangers deal collapsed

PSV Eindhoven director of football Ernest Stewart has provided a detailed account of why Couhaib Driouech's move to Rangers failed. An €8m agreement was in place for the 24-year-old to join the Scottish side, but the deal was cancelled following a medical examination.

Stewart explained that the collapse was caused by a disagreement regarding the forward's fitness. While PSV believed a minor injury would only sideline the player for a short period, Rangers estimated he would be unavailable for approximately six weeks. The Scottish club sought an immediate reinforcement and decided to abandon the transfer because of this projected period of inactivity.

According to Stewart, the dispute stems from how modern medical technology and data are interpreted. He suggested that while advanced equipment reveals more information than in the past, it can also lead to finding issues that may not be significant. He noted that an MRI scan will almost always show something in a player's body.

This incident marks the fourth time this year that a major transfer involving PSV has been cancelled at the final stage. In each of these instances, the club has faced a difference of opinion with the buying side regarding players leaving Eindhoven. Stewart described the situation as a recurring issue where clubs disagree on player availability.

The player has returned to Eindhoven and is reportedly disillusioned by the situation. Stewart noted that Driouech spent 48 hours in a state of uncertainty during his three-day trip to Scotland. The director expressed frustration that a potential four-year contract was undone by a disagreement over a period of four to six weeks of unavailability.