Rangers January transfer window news: Update emerges on reported interest in Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt
Reported interest from Rangers in Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt may be wide of the mark as The 4th Official claims they have “not heard anything” to back it up.
The Scottish football-focused outlet reported via Twitter on 8 January that they’d had no indication that the Light Blues were after the 21-year-old from Elland Road.
It had emerged earlier the same day in the Daily Mail that both Rangers and Old Firm rivals Celtic were interested in the Whites man, who is struggling for game time under Daniel Farke.
But T4O’s update was: “For those asking, not heard anything about Rangers being interested in Joe Gelhardt.”
Tough choices
On the basis of talent alone there would be good reason for Philippe Clement to be interested in the Leeds United forward.
But he isn’t a specialist number nine so he wouldn’t be the man to come in and lead the line ahead of Cyriel Dessers and he is unlikely to be cheap to loan [Alan Nixon, 8 January].
He is hardly getting a look in at Leeds currently so if they were open to covering a sizeable amount of his wages then perhaps Rangers could afford to work something out and still go after other targets.
The two sides did business on Glen Kamara’s transfer to the English Championship in the summer so lines of communication have been established, even if Michael Beale has now followed him south.
Gelhardt’s progress has stalled after an exciting breakthrough at Elland Road two seasons ago, and it isn’t hard to imagine half a season at Ibrox under Clement as a good opportunity for him to get back on track.
But there are now conflicting reports on the club’s interest in him so whether an approach materialises or not remains to be seen.
In other Rangers news, club chiefs have readied their response after the Light Blues reportedly lined up a seven-figure bid for their star man.