Rangers linked to striker 12 months on from Celtic transfer collapse which led to £9.5m deal
Yesterday at 03:30 PM
Rangers could look to Leeds United striker Joe Gelhardt in January as the club looks to solve its major issues in front of goal.
The Ibrox side have toiled in terms of hitting the back of the net this season with Nigerian international striker Cyriel Dessers hooked at half-time against Dundee United.
With Brazilian striker Danilo only just returning from injury and Hamza Igamane still having everything to prove, Rangers need more firepower come the January window.
Now, Rangers have been mentioned alongside Joe Gelhardt but will face a substantial challenge for the 22-year-old's signature with as many of 10 January transfer suitors listed.
Rangers linked to Joe Gelhardt
The Yorkshire Evening Post claim that Rangers were amongst ten teams who tried to sign Joe Gelhardt on loan for the season in the summer.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke opted to keep the striker around this season as the Red Bull-backed side try to stake a claim for promotion.
With 'several clubs' from the English Championship and Belgium left disappointed, Rangers were let down by Leeds' insistence on holding onto the attacker.
But since then, Gelhardt has been limited to two substitute appearances and only nine minutes in the English Championship this season.
Now, the report claims Rangers are back in the hunt for a January loan deal for Joe Gelhardt with the striker 'enthusiastic' about a potential switch.
Rangers aren't the only suitors however, with Portsmouth, Stoke City, Plymouth Argyle, Preston North End and a pair of unnamed Belgian clubs also mentioned.
Leeds United striker's doomed Celtic transfer
The links to Joe Gelhardt come a year on from when the Leeds United forward saw a move to Old Firm rivals Celtic collapse.
According to the YEP report, Gelhardt and Leeds United held talks with Celtic over a switch but issues with player registration rules eventually saw the deal collapse.
Leeds United had already hit the limit for loans abroad and a failure to turn one short-term deal into a permanent move eventually saw Celtic move elsewhere, presumably for Norwich's Adam Idah.
The big Irish striker then went on to score the winner in the final minute of the Scottish Cup Final against Rangers before Celtic paid Norwich £9.5m to sign Idah this summer.
Now, Joe Gelhardt is wanted by Rangers and the Liverpool-born striker could now wind up at Ibrox in January after last winter's sliding doors moment.
