Rangers have lodged an offer worth around £7.5m for Portland Timbers forward Kevin Kelsy, but the MLS side have shown no intention of selling and the 22-year-old Venezuelan international is not pushing for an exit, according to a report from Tom Bogert on social media platform X. The move comes as both Rangers and Celtic pursue a wide range of transfer targets across Europe and North America.
Separately, Rangers have finalised a loan agreement, including a buy option, to bring former Hearts left-back James Penrice to Ibrox from AEK Athens, as reported by journalist Fabrizio Romano on X.
Why are Rangers targeting Kevin Kelsy?
According to transferfeed.com, Rangers have identified Kelsy as a possible replacement for the injured Youssef Chermiti, with the club reportedly weighing him as part of a shortlist of striker options and open to either a permanent transfer or a loan arrangement. The same report notes that Kelsy has scored nine goals and provided two assists in 17 MLS appearances this season, underlining his current scoring form, and that he remains under contract at Portland Timbers until 31 December 2028.
What is Kelsy's background?
Kelsy has earned six caps for Venezuela and carries a market valuation of roughly €4.0m according to Transfermarkt data cited by transferfeed.com. His path to Portland ran through Shakhtar Donetsk, with a loan spell at FC Cincinnati preceding his move to MLS, as detailed by Major League Soccer's official site, which also reported that Portland's acquisition of the striker was worth close to $6 million, with Kelsy signed through 2028 and a club option for 2029. During his loan at Cincinnati in 2024, the fee was reported at $700,000 with a purchase option of roughly $7-8 million, according to a Cincinnati soccer news outlet. Major League Soccer's own reporting adds that Kelsy made 29 appearances across all competitions for Portland in 2024, scoring six goals that season.
What other moves are Rangers and Celtic working on?
Rangers, along with Fenerbahce, Ajax and Lyon, have recently asked for updated information on Girona winger Min-Su Kim, 20, according to journalist Rudy Galetti on X.
Celtic, meanwhile, are monitoring Slovan Liberec attacking midfielder Ermin Mahmic. The 21-year-old Bosnian could command what would be the largest transfer fee ever paid for a player leaving a Czech club, per a report carried by the Scottish Sun.
Celtic and Dutch side Groningen are both said to be interested in Lech Poznan winger Patrik Walemark, 24, according to a Polska Sportowy report relayed by the Daily Record.
Celtic are also in advanced negotiations for an 18-year-old Chelsea left-back, Landon Emenalo, on a loan basis, according to Anthony Joseph on X.
The Daily Record additionally reports that Celtic continue to hold interest in Hajduk Split right-back Niko Sigur, valued at around £6m, as well as Torino midfielder Gvidas Ginetis, with Hibernian's Miguel Chaiwa listed as a further midfield option.
Away from playing staff, Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh has held preliminary talks with Linfield after being approached about a potential investment in the Northern Irish club, the Daily Record reports.
What happens next?
Rangers are continuing to assess their options at striker during the current transfer window, though no agreement has yet been confirmed publicly, according to the Daily Record. Portland Timbers have not made any public statement on whether they intend to sell Kelsy, according to transferfeed.com, leaving the outcome of Rangers' bid unresolved for now.
Key Facts
- Rangers have bid roughly £7.5m for Portland Timbers striker Kevin Kelsy, 22, though Portland are not currently willing to sell.
- Kelsy has scored nine goals and added two assists in 17 MLS appearances this season and is under contract until 31 December 2028.
- Rangers have agreed a loan-with-option deal for left-back James Penrice from AEK Athens.
- Celtic are pursuing multiple targets including Ermin Mahmic, Patrik Walemark, Landon Emenalo, Niko Sigur, Gvidas Ginetis and Miguel Chaiwa.
- Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh has opened talks about a possible investment in Linfield.
