Former Motherwell striker Kevin van Veen plans to leave Groningen after just six months as he targets a return to Scotland amid interest from Rangers | OneFootball

After just six months, Kevin van Veen seems to be heading for the exit door at FC Groningen. Voetbal International reports that the 32-year-old striker is eyeing a return to Scotland, where he had been successful with Motherwell for the last two seasons.

Van Veen scored 40 goals in 83 appearances for Motherwell which led to offers from various clubs. Groningen came calling during the summer, so the former Scunthorpe United and Northampton Town forward made the move back to the Netherlands. However, things haven’t gone to plan so far, as Groningen currently sit 14th in the Dutch second-tier table following last season’s relegation from the Eredivisie.

Kevin van Veen has scored five goals this season, but a fallout with manager Dick Lukkien has seen him drop to the bench. In conversation with the Scottish Sun, Van Veen said ‘The coach and I had a discussion and I crossed a line with my language. I have been on the bench ever since and that has generated quite a bit of interest. My agent has already been called by six or seven clubs who want to hire me in January.’

During the international break, Van Veen returned to Scotland with his pregnant girlfriend and found it difficult to return to the Netherlands, knowing that his first child is on the way. The striker is keen on a return to Scotland and revealed that there was interest from Rangers before he joined Groningen. ‘Of course I would listen to Motherwell because I had a successful period there,’ he said. ‘But last season my agent also said that there was interest from Rangers, but that with my age I might not fit their profile.’ Kevin van Veen’s contract at Groningen runs until 2026.

GBeNeFN | Hugo Hargreaves