Former Birmingham City loanee Kieran Dowell is on the verge of securing a crucial return to the Championship, with Hull City ready to offer the midfielder an escape route from his Rangers nightmare.
From Blues Star to Ibrox Outcast
Kieran Dowell's career has taken a sharp turn since his productive spell at St Andrew's last season. The 28-year-old attacking midfielder made a significant impact during his loan with Birmingham City, contributing five goals and five assists in just 23 appearances for the Blues.
His form in the second tier earned him a chance back at parent club Rangers upon his return to Scotland in the summer. Initially, manager Russell Martin integrated him into the first-team setup at Ibrox. However, his opportunities quickly dried up, and he has been completely frozen out by new boss Danny Rohl.
Dowell's last competitive action for the Glasgow giants came almost five months ago, in a 4-2 win over Alloa in August. He has featured in only six matches since July, highlighting his drastic fall from favour.
Hull City Emerge as Likely Destination
With just six months remaining on his Rangers contract, a January move appears inevitable. Hull City, currently sitting seventh in the Championship table, have identified Dowell as a target to bolster their promotion push.
Tigers manager Sergej Jakirovic has publicly confirmed that the experienced midfielder is 'one of the options' the club is considering. However, a deal is not straightforward. Hull are currently operating under transfer restrictions and must sell a player before they can register any new signings.
This means Dowell, who is keen to reignite his career in England, must play a waiting game. His pedigree in the Championship is proven, having previously won promotion to the Premier League with both Sheffield United and Norwich City, in addition to a League One title on his CV.
What Dowell Would Bring to the MKM Stadium
The potential acquisition represents a low-risk, high-reward move for Hull. Dowell's technical quality and eye for goal from midfield were evident during his time at Birmingham. His skill set could provide the creative spark Jakirovic's side needs to solidify their play-off position.
For Dowell, a switch to Humberside offers the regular first-team football he desperately needs to get his career back on track after a frustrating and inactive five months in Scotland. A successful half-season could also secure his long-term future, with his Rangers deal set to expire in the summer.
All parties are now in a holding pattern, awaiting Hull's ability to clear space in their squad to facilitate the transfer and hand Kieran Dowell his Championship lifeline.
