Rangers’ Move for Joe Gelhardt Hit by Contract Complication as Alan Nixon Sounds the Alarm
Rangers thought they had a credible shot at landing Joe Gelhardt this summer. Now, thanks to Alan Nixon, it’s clear the road to Ibrox just got a lot more complicated.
The transfer journalist, who has been close to this story for a while, has revealed that Gelhardt’s contract situation at Leeds United has become a stumbling block for the Gers. Leeds are set to hold crunch talks with the forward over his future, and while a sale looks likely, Hull City are considered the clear favourites to land him, with Rangers having to do serious work to muscle their way into the conversation.
Here is the context that makes this difficult. Gelhardt spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Hull, scoring 15 goals and adding six assists in 44 appearances across all competitions. That kind of output does not go unnoticed, and it has directly impacted what Leeds now believe he is worth. Multiple reports from June 2026 place his value between €3.5 million and €6 million, with competition from Rangers likely pushing the final fee toward the upper end of that estimate.
That is the stumbling block in plain terms. The better Gelhardt performed, the higher his price climbed, and Rangers are now being asked to pay significantly more than they may have budgeted for.
Rangers have been keeping tabs on the 24-year-old and see him as a player who could work well alongside Lawrence Shankland in a front two. Gelhardt’s movement, mobility, and finishing make him an interesting fit for what Danny Rohl is building at Ibrox. The tactical case is there. The financial one is trickier.
There is a natural pathway between the clubs given that both Leeds and Rangers fall under the 49ers Enterprises ownership umbrella, with Paraag Marathe a key figure across the group. That connection has been flagged as something that could smooth negotiations. But shared ownership does not mean discounted prices, and Leeds have made clear they want full value.
The decision will ultimately fall on Gelhardt himself, with playing time and the chance to compete for trophies expected to play a big role in his thinking. Rangers can offer European football, which is a genuine selling point. Hull, on the other hand, can offer Premier League football, which is harder to compete with at this stage of a player’s career.
Rangers fans will not want to hear that their club is behind in this race. But that is where things stand. Nixon’s report makes it clear that Leeds know what they have, and they are not in a rush to give it away cheaply.
If Ibrox want Gelhardt, they will have to back it up with real money. The question now is whether the board is willing to go there.
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