Graeme Hanna

Wed 14 June 2023 21:10, UK

With Rangers said to be about to announce the signing of Sam Lammers from Atalanta, there has been doubt cast on his scoring record with the Dutchman returning a meagre six goals over the last three seasons.

In that period, he featured for Atalanta across the 2020/21 period, before a loan to Eintracht Frankfurt for the 2021/22 campaign. He returned to Italy last season but spent the first half with Empoli before completing 2022/23 with Sampdoria.

With goal returns of two, two, one and one at each club, respectively, there is an understandable scepticism and sense of the unknown at what Rangers are buying [Sky Sports] with a dire need for goals and quality at Ibrox next season.

However, his goals, or lack of them are just part of the story.

This is a player who has lost his way, needing to get back to his best in an environment where he can thrive and fall in love with the game, again.

That sentence applied as much to Lammers as it does to Todd Cantwell and look at how that one is progressing.

If the former PSV attacker was on form in Italy, playing to his full potential, he wouldn’t be on the verge of a switch to Glasgow. That is quite obvious, but what it does show is the pattern that Michael Beale is following as part of his rebuild of the squad.

There is plenty of merit to attracting such players who are needing to take one step back to make several strides forward and if that happens, it will improve the level of the Rangers’ first team and its results.

It won’t always work though and that is the risk that the Gers boss is tasked with managing. He needs to match rough diamonds with players in form in the here and now.

Lammers doesn’t appear to be a 25-goal striker, nor one who will run beyond his opponents but instead, his best work will be done in tight spaces and with his back to goal.

He has obviously been earmarked to play a part and as another hybrid-skilled attacker, he will tick boxes for Beale but it will be essential for the 26-year-old to contribute with his fair share of goals and assists in the coming season, in Scotland as well as Europe.

After playing against a high standard of opponent in Serie A and the Bundesliga, he should be able to benefit from the drop-off in levels in the Scottish Premiership, although it will bring its own distinct challenges.

Yes, his goal return in recent seasons is a concern but this is a player of quality with plenty to prove.

In other Rangers news, Chris Jack drops Jonathan Panzo update as “imminent” reports drop.