Three Leeds Utd fringe men who could interest Rangers once American takeover sealed amid fresh Daniel Farke speculation

IT'S OFFICIAL: Leeds Utd are returning to the Premier League.

And that news will trigger a raft of speculation about their stars as the joint Andrew Cavenagh/49ers Enterprises deal prepares to go through.

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There's even been speculation about the future of manager Daniel Farke, who could win the Championship outright for the THIRD time this season with a second different club in the next few weeks but isn't everyone's cup of tea.

Already viewed by some as a 'Championship specialist', his win record of 30 defeats in 52 Premier League games with Norwich doesn't pull up any trees.

Former Celtic star Chris Sutton for one said: “With Leeds, the demands of Leeds, fans want to see expansive football.

"They really need to stiffen up at the back, but my feeling is that he [Farke] won’t change. Has he got those players? Not so sure he has.”

Gabby Agbonlahor said: “I was thinking about it last night, Daniel Farke’s done a great job getting Leeds United up, but we’re in a ruthless, ruthless industry.

“Do Leeds change their manager for the Premier League? Listen, I know it’s ruthless, but Daniel Farke’s record in the Premier League, 52 games, nine wins, 30 defeats. Conceded 101 goals, score 31.

"He hasn’t done it in the Premier League, he’s struggled as a manager.

“And look at the players, we all go through the Leeds players and say… how many Leeds players are going to start getting the news in the next week that they’re not needed next year.

"They’ll do it to players that have got them there, and say, ‘Listen, thanks for getting us to the Premier League but we’re ok now thanks, we need to get better players’."

Which brings us to the players, where 49ers Enterprises director Gretar Steinsson has been spotted casting his eye over many Rangers games since news of the deal first broke.

Details of exactly how the relationship between Rangers and Leeds will pan out remain to be seen, but these are serious people who believe they can make a success of both operations - and player sharing would seem an obvious economy of scale.

Leeds are estimated to have guaranteed themselves £80m in Premier League money by winning promotion, while the incoming American axis at Ibrox will also know that there's the prospect of Rangers hitting the £40m mark if they can make it back into the Champions League.

For reference, just look at this season's promoted teams south of the border: Southampton spent £105million, Ipswich Town spent £131million and Leicester City spent £78million and neither are staying up.

So for all talk of feeder clubs, judicious use of the loan and permanent transfer market between the two clubs could be mutually beneficial in the same way that third-placed Hibs got good use from Emilio Marcondes (loan) and Nathan Moriah-Welsh (permanent) from Bournemouth after the Black Knights link-up.

So what players could make the move on? Well, there's already been some movement with full back Rasmus Kristensen agreeing a deal to join Eintracht Frankfurt.

Elsewhere, there's speculation over a move for Wolves keeper Sam Johnstone which could place the position of Ilian Meslier - under contract until 2026 - in some jeopardy.

There's even been talk of a move for Brighton's Evan Ferguson to lead the line which could place fresh question marks over veteran frontman Patrick Bamford.

And here's three other names which could appeal...

Joe Gelhardt

The powerful, talented playmaker has been linked with the Ibrox men for more than a year now.

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Now 22, the former England youth cap is under contract until 2027 but his immediate future seems likely to be away from Elland Road.

Spent a chunk of this season on-loan at Hull City

Under contract until 2027, Gelhardt has spent a chunk of this season on-loan with Hull City - for whom he scored a double last night against Preston.

Also entering the final year of his contract is fellow striker Patrick Bamford -

Sam Greenwood

The 23-year-old attacking midfielder would have been playing in the same game were it not for an injury - for a Preston side for whom he has scored seven goals this season.

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Another former England youth cap, the 23-year-old Greenwood is coming into the final year of his Leeds contract.

Preston negotiated a seven-figure option to buy for the star but are now likely to pass on the arrangement. Could a cut price deal see him move north instead?

Harry Gray

The new cause celebre on Elland Road is the latest chip off the block on one of British football's most fearsome production lines.

Harry's older brother Archie got the bird at Ibrox recently for having a soft spot for Celtic, but the young attacking player has time on his side.

Rated as potentially an even stronger player than his brother, could the Ibrox men benefit from a season's worth of development time for a young man with illustrious Scottish lineage?

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His father is former Scotland international Andy Gray while his grandfather Frank and great uncle Eddie also played for Leeds.

Leeds are strong in the youth ranks with Sam Chambers and Rory Mahady two other young Scots with big futures who could benefit from development time.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page