Rangers defeated Kilmarnock to start the new year in style, bouncing back from a disappointing Old Firm derby defeat that cost them the title initiative. With two games remaining to make up the difference, Rangers are currently eight points behind Celtic; as things stand, Brendan Rodgers will win the Scottish Premiership once more.
However, there is still hope for improvement thanks to the January transfer window at Ibrox. This month, they welcomed Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Fabio Silva on loan. It is also claimed that they may bring in another attacker to provide the firepower that Rangers’ Philippe Clement so desperately needs.
Rangers.
Rangers transfer news
After Silva, it would have been easy to assume that Rangers were done with their search for strikers this month, content that the loanee could be the man to find some success when leading the line. Alas, it seems as though the Gers aren’t taking any chances, having turned their attention back towards other targets.
According to The Fourth Official, Lawrence Shankland wants to move to Rangers this month and those at Ibrox are willing to pay what they consider to be a fair price for the forward’s signature.
That offer is likely to fall far below Hearts’ £3m asking price, however, in what could prove to be a stumbling block in negotiations. Given that Shankland is reportedly unlikely to sign a new deal at the club, it must be said that Hearts’ hand may be forced with the 28-year-old’s deal entering the final 12 months from the summer transfer window.
Incredible” Shankland could be the difference for Rangers
As Rangers go in pursuit of preventing yet another Celtic title win, Shankland could make all the difference. The forward has enjoyed an excellent season at Hearts and has more than earned the interest of top clubs. Shankland’s goals tell the story of a striker at the top of his game, with 18 in all competitions highlighting just how clinical the Hearts captain has been in the current campaign.
Rangers’ top scorer this season is Abdallah Sima with 15 goals, but when it comes to number nines, Cyriel Dessers leads the way with just eight goals. If Clement can add the goals of Shankland to lead the line alongside Sima, then he may well break Celtic’s recent spell of dominance in the Scottish Premiership.
The forward has earned plenty of praise this season, including from Livingston boss David Martindale, who said, via The Irish News: “I look at him and compare him and he’s completely different from (Celtic striker) Kyogo but he’s slightly like (former Rangers forward Alfredo) Morelos. Lawrence has more in his overall game and a better mentality.
When Morelos was at his prime, it’s a tough one but I’m probably taking Lawrence 18 goals in all competitions, half way through a season, is incredible numbers. It’s not just against us either, he’s scoring all types of different finishes against everyone.”
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