The Ibrox giants are also on the lookout for a new sporting director to work alongside Nils Koppen
12:41, 06 Mar 2025
Paraag Marathe, Victor Orta, Angus Kinnear and Paul Bell watch on at Elland Road
Rangers have been given a blueprint for how their search for a new sporting director could pan out - with the 49ers Enterprises reportedly closing in on filling the same vacancy at their current football entity Leeds United.
We broke the bombshell story last month that the US consortium are deep in talks to buy out the shares of Rangers' board members to complete a takeover at Ibrox. And following Gers CEO Patrick Stewart's recent comments that they also are working hard to appoint a figure to work alongside technical director Nils Koppen to try and find the club's next permanent manager, reports in Germany claim that Leeds have their eye on a sporting director of their own.
Sky Germany report that the 49ers chief and Elland Road chairman Paraag Marathe - a key player in the Rangers takeover - has identified former Arminia Bielefeld Director of Football and Managing Director of Sport Samir Arabi as a potential candidate to fill the role. Leeds are undergoing a complete shake-up in the management department with club CEO Angus Kinnear reportedly set to join Everton next season.
But it is claimed that Leeds want to bring in Arabi to provide support to first team manager and compatriot Daniel Farke in the transfer market. The Whites are hoping to return to the Premier League following relegation in 2023 and currently sit three points clear at the top of the second tier, and are said to be targeting Arabi ahead of a busy summer on both fronts.
Samir Arabi has been out of work since 2023(Image: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Article continues below
Leeds are already very familiar with the German market, having recruited several players from the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga in recent seasons, including Illia Gruev, Maximilian Wober, Joshua Guilavogui and Ao Tanaka. American head coach Jesse Marsch previously had an 18-month stint in the dugout at Elland Road having previously worked as manager of Reb Bull franchise trio RB Leipzig, RB Salzburg and New York Red Bulls.
Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.
You can also follow our dedicated Rangers and Celtic podcast pages and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We've also entered the world of WhatsApp with our Rangers community and Celtic community up and running. Follow NOW to get your club's latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to your phone.