Paraag Marathe appears to reveal Joel Piroe to Rangers truth as Leeds United business possible

Paraag Marathe has confirmed he is still "very involved" at Rangers and reiterated there could be business done with Leeds United this summer.

Marathe stood down as vice-chairman at Ibrox in February due to concerns over multi-club ownership.

The American businessman is also involved high up at Leeds, which could have been a problem down the line if both teams qualify for European competition.

However, Marathe is still very much involved at Rangers and there is the possibility of business being conducted between the teams.

That looked like being the case in January with Joel Piroe swapping clubs, only for that deal to break down - something Marathe has now alluded to.

Paraag Marathe confirms 'one or two' Leeds-Rangers deals were close

Piroe was expected to make the switch to Glasgow midway through last season due to a lack of playing time in West Yorkshire.

However, he the Dutchman ultimately remained at Leeds and did not really see an improvement in his fortunes.

It was not known at the time why that deal was not struck, though there were suggestions the player himself was not keen on the move.

And that is something Marathe has now hinted at, albeit without mentioning Piroe by name.

In an interview with the Yorkshire Evening Post on Thursday, Marathe said of his involvement in Rangers: "Same involvement. Very, very involved. I'm very interested; I'm very passionate about it.

"Also, there was the multi-club ownership rules, things that sort of prevented official board status for the moment, and that could change back too. But very much still involved the same."

Asked if business could be conducted between the teams, Marathe said: "Definitely, because we can maybe help influence the players' opportunity and ability to play.

"Make sure we know the system fits, make sure we know the medical performance side is good for him, the coach, because we have more knowledge of it all, as opposed to sending a player off and not knowing how it's [going to look].

"But ultimately it also takes three [willing parties] - the player has to want to go the other club, we're not forcing just because we're part of both clubs, operating both clubs, we're not forcing a player to, or forcing the other club to take him.

"So they also have to want him. There were one or two opportunities last season that would have made sense, but in the end the player didn't want to go.

"But there would have been an opportunity. There could have been an opportunity, and hopefully, or maybe there is one in the future too."

As Marathe implies, it really would make perfect sense for the two teams to conduct business this window given the obvious links.

Beyond Piroe, though, Rangers have not exactly been strongly linked with any Leeds players.

Rangers to benefit more than Leeds from arrangement

Leeds survived in the English Premier League with relative ease this past season.

Given their finances and the league, it is fair to say the Whites are shopping in a different market to Rangers.

On the basis of last season, there are no players in Rangers' ranks Leeds would like to have.

Nicolas Raskin has been linked with his fair share of clubs, but Leeds are already well stocked in central midfield.

In terms of business the opposite way, however, then there are plenty of Leeds fringe players who could find a home at Ibrox.

Piroe is just one such example - and that is a deal the Gers should very much be exploring - as well as someone like Lucas Perri.

He is seemingly unwanted at Leeds but is a top-class goalkeeper who would benefit from a year of playing in goal at Rangers.

Sam Byram, Jack Harrison and Mateo Joseph are a few others - each talented and each in need of more regular minutes.

It is certainly an exciting partnership, and hopefully one Rangers can lean far more into this window.