Couhaib Driouech will remain a PSV Eindhoven player after his proposed transfer to Rangers FC fell through at the final stage.

The 24-year-old winger had been expected to sign a four-year contract after PSV and Rangers reached an agreement worth around £6.5 million (€8 million). Personal terms had also been agreed, and Driouech travelled to the United Kingdom earlier this week with the expectation that the move would be completed.

Instead, the transfer collapsed on Friday following a dramatic sequence of events.

As reported by PSV watcher Rik Elfrink, Driouech underwent his medical in Manchester and was reportedly declared fit for the long term. However, Scottish reports subsequently indicated that an existing injury was identified during the assessment.

Rangers were concerned that the forward would not be immediately available to Derek McInnes, while PSV reportedly maintained that Driouech was capable of returning to action in the short term.

That disagreement ultimately proved decisive.

The Rangers Review reported that Rangers were unwilling to sign a player who would not be available immediately as they seek to strengthen McInnes' squad. The Scottish club subsequently decided to withdraw from the agreement.

Driouech had already attended Rangers' match against Jagiellonia Białystok at Ibrox on Thursday evening, watching alongside his entourage as the club were eliminated from the Europa League qualifiers.

What appeared to be the final step towards his transfer therefore ended with the player returning to PSV.

The failed move represents another unusual setback for PSV in the transfer market.

According to PSV watcher Rik Elfrink, the situations involving Ricardo Pepi, Armando Obispo, Adamo Nagalo and now Driouech represent four outgoing transfers that had reached an advanced stage before ultimately collapsing within five months.

“That is very, very exceptional,” Elfrink noted.

The four deals could collectively have generated around €55 million for PSV, but none of those transfers was completed.

Pepi had been close to joining Fulham for just under €40 million; Obispo was reportedly heading to Lens for €5.5 million, while Nagalo's proposed move to Çorum would have been worth around €2.5 million. Driouech's Rangers transfer was expected to bring approximately €8 million.

All four players therefore remain at PSV.

Rangers' decision comes as McInnes continues to demand more attacking reinforcements.

The club is advancing deals for James Penrice and Kevin Kelsy, while resources earmarked for Driouech can now be redirected elsewhere.

McInnes admitted after the Jagiellonia defeat that Rangers were “maybe not ready” for the Europa League and acknowledged the need for greater attacking quality.

“I do think we're lacking a cutting edge,” he said.

“Obviously, losing Youssef doesn’t help matters. We are looking at a No.9 position as well in terms of trying to get somebody in. It's clear, I've been saying since we came in, we'd like to try and get good wingers to the club to try and bring that creativity.”

For Driouech, a transfer that appeared virtually complete has instead ended with another unexpected twist, leaving him back in Eindhoven and PSV once again without the expected transfer income.