Domingos Quina has been the name on every football news outlet in the past one week. The 17-year-old Portuguese midfielder is a hot prospect in the ongoing transfer season with numerous clubs getting in line for his services. Although North London giants Arsenal are said to be closest in landing him at the moment, nothing is finalised yet and every other club has an equal chance.
The teen sensation has been linked with numerous clubs from across Europe since his Chelsea days and one of them has been Scottish giants Rangers FC. The Teddy Bears have been previously linked with a move for the player last winter when the side was in desperate need for a perfect central midfielder. However, the Hammers were dead against the deal, albeit loan, who were so confident about the player’s capabilities of breaking into the first team soon.
Though a string of lengthy injuries left the player high and dry soon, he did show some glimpses of brilliance in his first season with the London club. One such example would be his only goal last campaign, which saw the little man lobbing the Leicester City goalkeeper from the half-way line in a Premier League2 game.
Quina could only play 13 times last campaign, with only one assist apart from that wonder goal before injuries halted it. But he wasted no time in getting back to form. His underwhelming season hasn’t interrupted his Under-19 chances and he grabbed them from both hands.
He was declared the man of the match in Portugal’s 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in the Under-19 Euros held in Georgia, owing to some brilliant midfield displays as his side went into the semifinals. He is surely an exceptional talent waiting for that big break and West Ham’s unwillingness to let him leave for Arsenal makes him a suitable loanee for Pedro Caixinha.
The Portuguese manager, who has a much better knowledge of his fellow countryman, has brought in the likes of Graham Dorrans, Carlos Pena, Dalcio and Ryan Jack in his midfield this summer itself; and he knows how big a level up Quina’s inclusion would be.
It will be difficult for Rangers to land him once this chance goes. Arsenal have previously tried landing him before West Ham snapped him up last summer and if the Rangers delay, the London giants are bound to swoop for him.
Chelsea had picked him from Benfica’s youth academy and Quina wasted no time in breaking into the senior sides. However, intense competition in the first team led him to try his chances elsewhere. Youngsters like Moussa Dembele and Patrick Roberts have previously kept Scottish Premiership fans at the edge of their seats last season and Rangers could expect a similar outcome from his signing.
