Expert: Rangers have ace up their sleeve to help them win in transfer race to sign 'Excellent' striker
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(Credit: Imago) Joe Gelhardt: Rangers aim to exploit 49ers in bid to sign ‘excellent’ Leeds striker Tue 7 April 2026 8:00, UK Joe Gelhardt could be set to leave Leeds United this summer with Rangers among the clubs keeping a close eye on his performances on loan.The 23-year-old has spent the season on loan at Championship outfit Hull City, where his performances have attracted plenty of high-profile interest.Rangers are among the clubs tracking the forward as Danny Rohl hopes to bolster his squad, with plans already in place for when the summer window opens.Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Rangers could exploit their link with Leeds to get a deal for Gelhard over the line.Both clubs are owned by 49ers Enterprises, and while no deals have been done between them yet, the possibility has given Rangers a boost for the transfer window. 🔄 Rangers Transfer Update 🔄 Breaking news on latest signings, departures, and contract news from the Ibrox boardroom. VISIT THE RANGERS TRANSFER HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES How could Rangers sign Joe Gelhardt from Leeds?Football Insider shared reports on 5 April that Rangers scouts have been watching Gelhardt this season and have been impressed by what they have seen.The Ibrox club are keen to bolster their attacking options in the summer transfer window and are not completely content with the forwards at their disposal.Joe GelhardtHull City StatsAppearances35Starts31Minutes Played2549Goals13Assists5Joe Gelhardt’s stats for Hull City in 2025-26.
(via Transfermarkt)Gelhardt’s recent form for Hull City could see Rangers act on what has been long-term interest in the Leeds United loanee, having previously considered a move.“Rangers are interested in signing Joe Gelhardt,” Brown told Football Insider.“The link they’ve got with Leeds will be helpful, with the owners, because it makes negotiations between the clubs that much easier than it normally is.“Leeds are prepared to let him go, they don’t think he’s got a long-term future there so they’ve been open to offers for a while and let him go out on loan.“By all accounts, he’s been excellent for Hull City, and Rangers have taken note of that.“They’ll be watching him closely for the rest of the season, but they feel he would do a good job coming up to Scotland, and he could make a real difference there.“Rangers want to strengthen their attack, he’s an option for them, and it could be one of those deals that works out well for everybody involved.”Could Hull City look to keep hold of Gelhardt?Gelhardt has established himself as a key player for Hull City since joining on loan, with his contributions proving crucial to their lofty ambitions.The forward’s performances in the Championship have helped them into a strong position to qualify for the playoffs with the ultimate hope of promotion to the Premier League.Credit: ImagoBrown told Football Insider last month that Hull are keen to sign Gelhardt permanently and hope they will be able to agree terms with Leeds this summer.Leeds are expected to be open to letting the forward leave permanently after another spell away, but will demand a reasonable fee for his services.Interest from Rangers has complicated the situation and led to suggestions that Hull could miss out on the player who they have loved this season. Don’t Miss a Beat: Your Rangers Insider Access Get the full story from Ibrox and Auchenhowie with our dedicated expert hubs: Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.