With Rangers looking to build on a promising start to the summer, a couple of high-profile departures could serve to swing open the doors and prise open the pursestrings.
The Scottish Premiership runners-up removed £3 million misfit Sam Lammers from their roster last week, accepting a bid from FC Twente.
Connor Goldson sealed his own departure on Tuesday too. The long-serving defender had fallen short of his usual standards under Philippe Clement – mistakes creeping into his game at the age of 31 – and departs for Aris Limassol.
Jose Cifuentes could yet join Goldson in Greece. Rangers, according to reports, could even make a £3 million profit on a midfielder who’s tally of Premiership appearances stands at a measly nine.
And Rangers will need all the funds they can get if they are serious about striking a deal to bring Scotland international Tommy Conway north of the border.
Middlesbrough lead Rangers in Tommy Conway race
Conway has been linked semi-regularly with the Glasgow giants for the best part of 12 months.
With his contract expiring in 2025 at Bristol City – the striker appears to have little interest in signing a new one either – a departure this summer feels inevitable.
The Bristol Live reports that Conway is training with The Robins Under 21 side at present. He has even been left out of all Bristol City’s five pre-season friendlies.
So the Championship outfit will not stand in his way should an acceptable offer arrives. What exactly an ‘acceptable’ offer looks like, however, remains to be seen though second-tier rivals Middlesbrough are reportedly testing the waters with an opening bid of £5 million.
Rangers, then, will need to put their money where their mouth is if they have any hope of beating Michael Carrick’s side to Conway’s signature, with Football Insider reporting that Boro are now leading Clement’s team in pole position.
Capped once by the Tartan Army, Conway scored 12 goals last season for a mid-table Bristol City outfit. He also netted the winner to kick Premier League West Ham United out of the FA Cup.
But with the bidding starting at £5 million, Rangers may be hard pressed keeping pace with Middlesbrough and co. Particularly if the likes of Burnley step up their own interest, and create something of a bidding war.
Rangers, the Daily Record say, do have funds to spend on a striker after bringing in an impressive £2.8 million for forgotten man Lammers.
Lawrence Shankland also a target for striker-searching Clement
Hearts hitman Lawrence Shankland is a player the Gers admire greatly. But, with his own contract expiring next summer, there is a feeling that the 2023/24 Premiership Golden Boot winner will come a lot cheaper than Conway.
Hearts may be willing to accept offers in the region of £3 million.
“All eyes will be on what’s going to happen with Lawrence Shankland and whether or not Rangers can come up with an offer which will tempt Hearts into doing business,” former Ibrox captain Barry Ferguson tells the Daily Record.
“From what I hear, the interest is very real.
“The difficulty will be reaching an agreement on a price for a player who turns 29 next month and has only one year left on his current contract. Both clubs will have a firm opinion on his market value and they’re unlikely to be in the same ballpark.
“I just hope they manage to find a way to meet in the middle. This is a signing that would be good for all parties. I’ve been saying for some time now that Shankland has really grown on me as an all-round striker.
“And it feels to me as if this is the right time for him to make the big move.”
