Joel Piroe might be heading for the Ibrox exit door — or rather, the Elland Road exit door. At 26, the Dutch forward has struggled for consistent minutes at Leeds United this season, and according to Football Insider, Rangers are emerging as a serious suitor once again. This isn’t the first time his name has been linked with a move to Glasgow, and the recurring nature of the rumour suggests there’s genuine substance behind it.
Piroe to Rangers : the transfer rumour gaining traction
Rangers fans will recognise Joel Piroe’s name from previous transfer windows. The lack of regular game time at Leeds appears to be the driving factor this summer, and a move to the Scottish Premiership would almost certainly guarantee him a starting role. At a club fighting to reclaim ground on Celtic, a forward with his technical profile — creative, mobile, comfortable in tight spaces — fits the bill well.
The timing matters too. Leeds are navigating a critical phase in their own season, which means Piroe’s opportunities are unlikely to increase dramatically before any summer window opens. A January move was reportedly considered but never materialised. The summer of 2026 looks like the real moment of decision for both club and player.
Meanwhile, Andy Robertson’s departure from Liverpool adds another interesting dimension to the Scottish football transfer picture. At 32, the left-back is leaving Anfield, and Football Transfers suggests Celtic could offer something that heavyweight European clubs like Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, and Napoli simply cannot — consistent first-team football. For a player at that stage of his career, that’s not a small thing. It could be the decisive factor.
| Player | Current club | Linked destination | Key factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Piroe | Leeds United | Rangers | Lack of game time |
| Andy Robertson | Liverpool | Celtic | Regular first-team football |
| Shin Yamada | Celtic (on loan at Preussen Munster) | TBC | Only one start in loan spell |
Shin Yamada’s loan at Preussen Munster has been anything but smooth. The 25-year-old Celtic striker has started just once during his stint with the German club, who currently sit at the foot of Bundesliga 2. Sports director Jan Uphues has publicly stated that Yamada will receive more opportunities across the final six matches of the campaign — which raises the question of whether it’s too little, too late for a player who needs match sharpness heading into next season.
Chris Sutton, McTominay, and the rest of the Scottish gossip round-up
Chris Sutton rarely pulls his punches, and his latest verdict on Celtic’s title defence is no exception. “I don’t think Celtic can win it,” the former striker told Sky Sports, pointing instead to Hearts and Rangers as the more likely contenders. For a man who gave his best years to the Parkhead club, that’s a bold call — and one that will sting in the east end of Glasgow.
Daizen Maeda’s weekend movements caught some attention too. The Japan international turned up at St Andrew’s on Sunday to watch his former Celtic team-mate Tomika Iwata line out for Birmingham City in their 2-0 Championship victory over Wrexham. A show of solidarity between ex-teammates — or just a football man enjoying a match ? Either way, it highlights the tight bonds that form within successful squads.
Here are the key storylines from the Scottish football gossip circuit this week :
- Joel Piroe — Rangers linked again as Leeds role diminishes
- Andy Robertson — Celtic among potential destinations after Liverpool exit
- Kieron Bowie — vows to stay at Hellas Verona even if they drop to Serie B
- Scott McTominay — insists Napoli are still in the Italian title race despite a nine-point gap to Inter
- Shin Yamada — promised more minutes in Preussen Munster’s final six games
Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay is keeping the faith at Napoli, despite Sunday’s draw with Parma leaving the reigning Italian champions nine points adrift of Internazionale at the top of Serie A. Defiant words, but the mathematics are brutal at this stage of the season. What’s more interesting — and slightly unexpected — is that Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, himself a film producer of note, believes McTominay has the raw material to pursue an acting career once he hangs up his boots. At 29, that second career is still some years away. But the compliment from a man who knows the industry is worth something.
Kieron Bowie’s situation deserves more attention than it’s received. The Scotland striker scored his second goal for Hellas Verona since his move from Hibernian, but it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat against Torino on Saturday. With Verona locked in a relegation battle, Bowie has made it publicly clear he won’t push for the exit even if the club drops to Serie B. That kind of loyalty is rare in modern football, and it says something real about a player still building his reputation in Italy. Whether Verona can survive the drop will define much of what comes next for both club and striker.
