EXCLUSIVE By Wayne Veysey

Rangers have opened preliminary talks about signing Leeds United striker Kemar Roofe, Football Insider can reveal.

Leeds briefed the media yesterday saying they had not received an approach from the Glasgow giants for the centre-forward, who was their leading scorer last season.

Ibrox sources have told Football Insider that Rangers’ interest in Roofe is genuine and discussions are underway via third parties over prising him from the Championship giants.

The Scottish club have been alerted to the 26-year-old’s potential availability, as he has entered the final year of his contract at Leeds.

United have already sold Jack Clarke to Tottenham for £9million rising to a potential £12million, and have agreed a £5.5million fee with Brentford for Pontus Jansson.

There is now a real possibility that Roofe could become the third key player from Marcelo Bielsa’s first team to secure a big-money transfer this summer.

As revealed by Football Insider, Leeds do not want to lose the forward and are eager to tie him down to a long-term contract.

He is regarded as a key player by Bielsa due to his goals, skill and work-rate as well as his ability to fit into the team’s aggressive, front-foot playing style.

Rangers’ move for Roofe is dependent upon them selling star man Alfredo Morelos, who is attracting widespread interest from clubs in England and across the Continent.

Roofe joined Leeds for £3million from Oxford United in 2016 and was mainly used in attacking midfield roles for his first two seasons before being used almost entirely at centre-forward last season, when he scored 15 goals from 34 matches in all competitions.

In other Rangers news, it can be REVEALED that the club are in pole position to sign a player tipped to ‘be worth £20million next year’.