Talk of a late January transfer window move for Joel Piroe to Rangers has circulated, but the likelihood of the Leeds United striker heading to Ibrox for the second half of the season is regarded as slim.
While the well-documented relationship between Leeds and Rangers through shared ownership links with Paraag Marathe under 49ers Enterprises has fuelled speculation, the practical football factors point the other way.
Leeds are now expected not to complete a move for Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves, removing the key condition that might have opened the door for Piroe to depart.
Without an incoming striker to rebalance their squad, Leeds are reluctant to weaken their attacking options, even if Piroe is not currently first choice.
The Dutch forward finds himself behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha in the pecking order, but squad depth across a long English Premier League season remains a major consideration.
From Leeds perspective, allowing Piroe to leave without reinforcement would represent a risk they are not prepared to take in the middle of a campaign.
There is also the player’s own stance. Piroe is understood to be keen to remain in the English Premier League environment, a factor that further complicates any potential switch to Scotland at this stage. Even with Rangers monitoring the situation, there has been no significant shift suggesting a deal is close.
For Rangers, this fits into a wider pattern that has defined their striker search. The club have agreed a deal in principle for Ryan Naderi, but his arrival from Hansa Rostock is expected in the summer, with the German side unwilling to lose him during their promotion push.
That leaves the Ibrox side short of an immediate addition, despite clear intent to strengthen in the forward line, with a move for Southampton forward Cameron Archer now also unlikely due to similar reasons.
At the same time, the situation around Danilo has shifted. The Brazilian had been edging toward a loan exit to Eredivisie side NEC, but with incoming striker routes stalling, Rangers are now unlikely to sanction his departure, aware that reducing their options would leave them thin for the title run-in.
Taken together, the Piroe situation highlights how Rangers business is being shaped by external decisions. Leeds’ call not to add another striker blocks an exit.
Rostock’s promotion ambitions delay Naderi. The knock-on effect is that Rangers must continue with their current forward group, at least for now.
As ever in the final hours of a window, circumstances can change quickly, but at present a Piroe move to Ibrox looks more like speculation than a deal close to materialising.