Rangers and Motherwell alerted after Kevin van Veen Groningen bust-up

Former Motherwell hero Kevin van Veen has alerted Scottish clubs to a potential loan move in January, after reportedly falling out with his manager at Groningen.

The Dutch striker left the Fir Park club in a £500,000 summer switch to Groningen after rattling in 29 goals last season, but it has turned sour after a bust-up with boss Dick Lukkien.

Van Veen, 32, is about to become a father and is keen to return to Scotland, with Motherwell and Rangers being put on high alert that he could return here on a loan move.

He told the Scottish Sun: “the move back home has not worked out the way I had anticipated.

“My girlfriend is expecting our first child in the next couple of weeks, and it is becoming more and more difficult for me.

“I knew when I went to Groningen that it would present a challenge, because of our domestic situation, but it has been much harder than I thought it would be.

“I was back in Scotland last week, then returned to Holland.

“I realised then the next time I made the trip, I might have to hold our baby, then hand him or her back and leave them behind.

“That hit me really hard. Family is so important to me and I think it’s going to be difficult to do that.

“Of course I would listen to Motherwell, because I had a successful time there.

“But last season my agent told me there was definitely interest in me from Rangers, though at my age I maybe don’t fit their profile.

“I had a lot of happy times in Scotland, and I would never rule out more.”

Van Veen has scored five goals in 10 games for Groningen, but has been benched for the last three.

He explained: “I had been doing OK, no better, but the coach and I had a discussion and I crossed a line in the language I used with him.

“Since then I’ve been on the bench