Rangers continue to be linked with Lawrence Shankland and pundit Michael Stewart believes he could thrive with a move to Ibrox.
The Gers spent heavily on strikers over the summer but Michael Beale’s recruitment hasn’t really worked out.
Cyriel Dessers hasn’t yet shown that he can be a long-term answer, Danilo is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines and Sam Lammers is already out on loan at Utrecht just months after arriving.
A loan forward has already been signed with Fabio Silva arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers until the end of the season.
Philippe Clement may be tempted to go for one more striker though – and one name stands out right now.
Michael Stewart comments on Lawrence Shankland to Rangers
Reports just a few days ago indicated that Rangers are interested in signing Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland.
Those reports came from Sky Sports, who added that a Rangers deal is feasible but may require some players to move off the wage bill first.
Hearts allegedly want around £3million for Shankland and reports indicate that Shankland is poised to reject the offer a new deal to stay at Hearts.
There appears to be a real chance for Rangers to strike a deal here and pundit Michael Stewart thinks the move makes sense.
Speaking on Viaplay, Stewart suggested that Shakland is ‘certainly’ a better striker than current Rangers front man Dessers.
Stewart feels that he has seen enough of Dessers to know that Rangers need another option in the final third, and thinks Shankland can make the step up.
However, Stewart thinks that Shankland will ‘cost a fair bit of money’, potentially making a January deal a little tricky.
“I think we’ve seen enough so far to suggest that reinforcements need to be had there,” said Stewart. “There’s obviously a lot of speculation about a certain number nine at Hearts. For me, there’s no doubt that, certainly, Lawrence Shankland is a better striker than Cyriel Dessers.”
“I think he could,” Stewart added when asked if Shankland can make the step up to Rangers. “From Hearts’ perspective, they don’t want to lose him. He’s going to cost a fair bit of money but Rangers… I would be very surprised if they weren’t looking at somebody like Lawrence Shankland.”
Shankland is a proven goalscorer in the Scottish Premiership after smashing 37 goal in 58 games for Hearts.
Rangers have sometimes been guilty of not pouncing on Scottish Premiership talent, so looking at Shankland rather than another import does make sense.
Our concern would be with spending another decent seven-figure fee on a 28-year-old striker just months after signing Dessers, who was 28 at the time of his arrival.
Those signings don’t tend to offer much in terms of resale value and there would be long-term questions about a deal for Shankland.
The expectation levels at Ibrox are completely different to those at Tynecastle, but Shankland grew up supporting Rangers and would surely love the move.
After spending massively on strikers over the summer with little reward, Rangers may now go down the route of a proven Scottish Premiership striker – and there are few right now who can match Shankland.
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