---
title: "Rangers make Kevin Kelsy bid but Portland ‘aren’t looking to sell’"
canonical: "https://readrangers.com/2026/08/14/kevin-kelsy-bid-rangers-portland-timbers"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Rangers News"
published: "2026-08-14T11:32:24Z"
modified: "2026-09-22T16:21:06Z"
---

# Rangers make Kevin Kelsy bid but Portland ‘aren’t looking to sell’

**Rangers have made a bid for Portland Timbers striker Kevin Kelsy but the MLS franchise “aren’t looking to sell”, according to American journalist Tom Bogert.**

It is the first suggestion of a formal approach since the Venezuelan emerged as a target, with Bogert detailing an offer “in the region of $10 million” (£7.3m)

Read Rangers has already profiled the 22-year-old under consideration as a [replacement for Youssef Chermiti.](https://readrangers.com/2026/08/13/kevin-kelsy-rangers-striker-chermiti-replacement)

> 🇻🇪 Sources: Rangers submit a bid in the region of $10m for Portland Timbers forward Kevin Kelsy.\
> \
> Timbers aren't looking to sell and Kelsy isn't pushing to leave. The 22-year-old Venezuela int'l has 9g/2a in 994 mins this season.\
> \
> Rangers not the only club tracking him. [pic.twitter.com/qtbtljoFKf](https://t.co/qtbtljoFKf)
>
> — Tom Bogert (@tombogert) [August 13, 2026](https://x.com/tombogert/status/2088033158004461874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

## Why the Kevin Kelsy bid has been lodged now

The search became urgent when Youssef Chermiti suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Hibernian, days after Rangers [turned down a substantial offer for the forward](https://readrangers.com/2026/08/09/rangers-reject-massive-galatasaray-bid-chermiti).

Bojan Miovski remains available, but Derek McInnes has made no secret of wanting more firepower before the window shuts on 31 August.

Ryan Naderi’s poor performance against Jagiellonia Bialystok has harmed his prospects, and it’s another problem for McInnes to solve ahead of Sunday.

Kelsy fits the physical brief.

The 6ft 4in frontman has scored nine goals in 17 MLS appearances this year, joined Portland permanently from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2025 and is contracted until December 2028 with a club option for 2029

That contract position hands the Timbers strength in negotiations.

They aren’t looking to sell and the player appears content in MLS, so Rangers will have their work cut out to seal a deal on Kevin Kelsy.