Peter Grant ‘surprised’ by Rangers transfer decision on Lawrence Shankland
Peter Grant admits he was “so surprised” that Rangers didn’t decide to sign Lawrence Shankland this summer, suggesting he’s playing at Old Firm level with Hearts.
The Light Blues spent a lot of money over the transfer window to bring in the likes of Danilo, Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers, all with the intention of replacing the goals of Alfredo Morelos. However, all three have struggled to hit the ground running at Ibrox.
Grant could not believe that the Light Blues didn’t move to bring Hearts striker Shankland to Glasgow this summer and even went as far as to suggest that the 28-year-old would score 20 goals or more a season if he was playing for Rangers, or Celtic.
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show (15 November, 22:35) Grant said: “If you want to win competitions you need a goal scorer and you can’t go along with one. I think if Lawrence Shankland was playing for a Celtic or a Rangers and he gets six chances, he would score four.
“That’s where I think he’s at that level when you talk about strikers who play for Celtic and Rangers. I was so surprised that when Rangers were looking for a striker in the summer, they never went and got him. If you create chances, he’ll score them.
“I think there will be interest in him. My point was I don’t think Lawrence Shankland will go into Europe and score bundles of goals, but domestically he will score 20 plus.”
Under their nose
It does seem bizarre that despite having plenty of money to spend over the summer, Michael Beale opted to take three gambles to improve his frontline in the shape of Danio, Dessers and Lammers, rather than sign a proven Premiership forward.
All three additions at Ibrox were unproven in Scotland and that risk has been realised by their indifferent start to life in Glasgow so far, their poor form coming at a time where the Hearts forward has found the net five times in 12 Premiership matches.
On top of that the 28-year-old has found the net against Rangers twice this season, both in the league and the Viaplay Cup, while also scoring against Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic, just to give supporters a taste of what they missed out on.
With the January window around the corner, Philippe Clement has the chance to right yet another of Beale’s wrongs at Ibrox and it would make perfect sense for the Belgian to sign the Scottish international to bring some guaranteed goals to his frontline for the second half of the campaign.
In other Rangers news, Sam Lammers’ Ibrox career could already be coming to an end after a January exit was mooted for the Dutchman