Rangers January transfer plans remain fluid, but one thing is becoming increasingly clear: any move for a new striker is likely to depend on an exit first.
According to the Daily Record, Rangers are keeping a close eye on Hibernian forward Kieron Bowie – but a deal this month would only become realistic if the club manages to move on an attacker, with Danilo seen as the most likely candidate to depart.
The 23-year-old Bowie has enjoyed a productive campaign at Easter Road, scoring eight goals in 27 games this season after joining Hibs from Fulham in 2024.
In total, he has netted 14 times in 49 appearances for the Edinburgh club, establishing himself as a key attacking figure under David Gray.
That form has not gone unnoticed. Celtic are also understood to have registered their interest, while clubs in the English Championship are monitoring his situation.
Hibs, however, are believed to be holding out for a £6.5 million fee – a figure that would make Bowie one of the most expensive domestic transfers in recent Scottish football history.
Rangers, for now, are playing a watching brief.
Rather than making an immediate move, the Ibrox club are understood to want to be kept informed of any developments, with Bowie viewed more as a summer target than a January priority. That stance could change quickly if there is movement in Rangers own attacking department or in the immediate future of Bowie.
Danny Röhl hinted in his recent press conference that striker recruitment is not at the top of his agenda unless the squad changes.
“For me it’s not just about the nine,” Röhl said.
“In general, we have to increase our goals. Let’s do the first job with the first two players, then let’s see what we can do next.”
Those “first two players” are widely believed to be incoming reinforcements at left-back after the signing of Tochi Chukwuani earlier this afternoon with Rangers prioritising structural balance over adding another forward.
The striker situation at Ibrox is already crowded on paper. Yousef Chermiti has emerged as first choice following his Old Firm heroics, while Bojan Miovski offers a reliable alternative.
That leaves Danilo as third choice – a role that sits awkwardly with his wage packet, transfer fee, and injury record.
Rangers paid a reported €6 million for Danilo in 2023, but inconsistent form and recurring fitness issues have prevented him from establishing himself. With the Brazilian reportedly transfer-listed, a loan or permanent exit could free up both wages and squad space.
If that happens, Bowie could come back into the picture.
Hibs boss David Gray, however, has played down any immediate movement.
“No, I think naturally, again with the window being open, that's speculation that will always be there,” Gray said when asked about interest in Bowie.
“It’s a sign of the football club doing well, it’s a sign that your players are playing well.
“For any player that gets speculation around them, there’s nothing you can do about that. It means you’re doing something right.”
Gray added that speculation was part and parcel of success.
“It’s come because you’re playing well, you’re working hard, you’re part of a successful team.
“And I don’t expect that speculation to go away.”
From Rangers perspective, Bowie’s profile is familiar. Inside Ibrox reported last summer that while he was admired as a player, the club felt his attributes didn’t fully match what they were looking for at the time – and that Hibs would demand a premium fee for selling to a domestic rival – a theme we see now with the asking price.
Instead, Rangers moved for Miovski and Chermiti, reshaping their forward line.
What has changed since then is Rangers’ momentum. With Röhl’s side now firmly back in the title race and injuries forcing squad reassessments, January has become more about fine-tuning than rebuilding.
Bowie, a Kirkcaldy-born striker who has also featured for Scotland’s Under-21s, remains a name to watch – but only if the dominos start to fall.