Fresh Rangers FC, Kieran Dowell exit claim emerges - it may interest Hull City | OneFootball

The Light Blues playmaker is reportedly of interest to the play-off hopefuls

A fresh update has emerged on Kieran Dowell's immediate future at Scottish Premiership giants, Glasgow Rangers amid recent interest from Championship play-off hopefuls, Hull City.

According to Glasgow World, the Light Blues playmaker is one of six players within Danny Rohl's squad who have been informed that they are free to seek new pastures between now and Deadline Day on Monday, February 2nd.

Rohl was appointed at Ibrox in October after a lengthy managerial search following a dismal and short stint north of the border for Russell Martin, with the German named as his successor three months after leaving Sheffield Wednesday after a well-documented fallout with the Owls' controversial former owner, Dejphon Chansiri.

In recent weeks, the former Bayern Munich assistant has been able to somewhat improve the Gers' results, meaning they are now less than ten points behind current league leaders, Hearts of Midlothian, who have taken full advantage of the uncertainty which has plagued both Rangers and their bitter Old Firm rivals, Celtic, in the first five months of the campaign.

Uncertainty was certainly a buzzword attached to the Tigers at the beginning of the season too, particularly after Turkish media mogul and extremely vocal chairman, Acun Ilicali, initially replaced Ruben Selles with current head coach Sergej Jakirovic on a two-year contract, just weeks after City avoided a second relegation to League One in five years by virtue of goal difference.

The Tigers were then hamstrung to an extent in the summer transfer window, receiving a two-window transfer fee restriction, meaning only free transfers, moves for unattached players and loan deals without any extra payments required could be struck by the East Yorkshire club before being fully ratified by the EFL.

At the start of January, though, Hull remain one of the surprise packages and sit fifth in the Championship table after 25 games played, although they will, once again, have to be rather meticulous and logical with any transfer movements in the next month, with Jakirovic extremely light on numbers at present in various departments due to availability issues.

Dowell has been on Rangers' books since the summer of 2023, penning a three-year contract after exiting Hull's divisional rivals, Norwich City, on a pre-contract agreement.

He is a seasoned campaigner and household name to supporters of many Championship sides, having featured at the level for the likes of the Canaries, Nottingham Forest, Wigan Athletic, Sheffield United and Derby County, with the latter four of those spells coming in loan deals away from his boyhood club, Everton.

Ironically, the now 28-year-old has been the scourge of the Tigers in the past, with it being well-documented that he has netted two career hat-tricks against the Yorkshire outfit for Forest in October 2017 and Wigan in July 2020, with the second of those coming in a shock 8-0 victory at the Brick Community Stadium.

Dowell also spent the second half of last season on loan with League One champions Birmingham City, scoring five times and posting as many assists in 23 appearances at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park before returning to Ibrox ahead of the final year of his contract.

So far this season, though, the Ormskirk native has made just six appearances across all domestic and European competitions for the Light Blues.

Four of those have been as a starter, but they all came under Martin's management before his Autumn dismissal, with the last of those coming in a 4-2 victory against Alloa Athletic in the Scottish League Cup on August 16th.

It was reported last month that Hull were plotting a loan move for Dowell's services ahead of the window, with Jakirovic confirming such interest after his side's New Year's Day defeat to Stoke City.

An exit for the playmaker now seems even more likely as Glasgow World report he is at the top of Rohl's departure list alongside the likes of former Stoke winger, Rabbi Matondo.

Kieran Dowell loan move would be shrewd business from Hull City

Soccer Football - FA Cup - Fourth Round - Birmingham City v Newcastle United - St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, Birmingham, Britain - February 8, 2025 Newcastle United's Lewis Miley in action with Birmingham City's Kieran Dowell REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

Having posted over 35 goal contributions in 123 second tier appearances thus far, a loan swoop for Dowell is extremely sensible business from the Tigers, taking all factors into account.

Despite never managing in England beforehand, Jakirovic has been able to recruit several players with Championship-level quality and experience, as showcased by the form of marquee summer recruit, Oli McBurnie.

Hull also only made three signings on loan in the summer, which has allowed them the wriggle room to pursue this deal without any further implications, as only five temporary additions are permitted within a matchday squad.

It represents Dowell with the opportunity to reignite his career once more, whilst Hull could also secure his services on a long-term deal depending on how the fortunes of their promotion push pan out in the coming months.