Rangers Eye Leeds United Man After Reported PL Exit: Could He Fix Their Goalscoring Problem? | OneFootball

Rangers appear to be leading the race to sign Joel Piroe from Leeds United. The Scottish club’s manager, Danny Rohl, is clearly on the hunt for a new striker after that 3-2 loss to Motherwell on April 26, 2026. Leeds have told the 26-year-old Dutch forward that he isn’t part of their Premier League plans anymore.

Rangers look set to sign Joel Piroe from Leeds United this summer

It’s been a tough season for him, with only two starts and just 218 minutes of top-flight football under his belt. Even though he bagged 19 goals during Leeds’ promotion run last year, Piroe hasn’t scored once in the Premier League; his only goal this term came in the FA Cup.

A big factor here is the link between the two clubs; they share the same owners, 49ers Enterprises, and Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe has a major say at both. That connection reportedly gives Rangers the upper hand over other interested clubs like Middlesbrough.

Could Piroe actually fix Rangers’ goalscoring problems?

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 05: Joel Piroe of Leeds United in action during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between West Ham United and Leeds United on April 05, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Rangers legend Ally McCoist has already given the move his blessing. Speaking on talkSPORT Bet Casino, he mentioned that Piroe has the quality to do well in Scotland and should handle the transition easily. McCoist admitted the Premier League spell didn’t go to plan but insisted the Suriname international still has plenty of talent.

While that’s a strong endorsement, the real question is whether Piroe is a genuine upgrade or just an easy deal because of the 49ers’ ownership setup. His time in the Premier League showed he struggled against elite defenders, which is fair enough, but Rangers need a player who delivers week in, week out, not just someone who looks good in the Championship.

His movement and finishing are definitely his best traits, and he’d likely get a lot more space in the Scottish Premiership. Still, Piroe’s inconsistency and the fact that he needs the right matchup to thrive are worrying. The deal makes total sense financially, but Rohl has to make sure it works on the pitch too.

If Piroe can find his feet away from the pressure of the top flight, this could be a smart bit of business. However, with players like Nico Raskin attracting interest as their contracts run down, Rangers have a lot more to figure out this summer than just finding a new number nine.