Rangers: Philippe Clement to demand Ibrox board signs Lawrence Shankland as £5m reveal emerges
We’re delighted to welcome former Ibrox star Derek Ferguson as our exclusive Rangers columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points in Govan…
Derek Ferguson has pleaded with the Rangers board to back Philippe Clement and make the “no brainer” signing of “ice cold” Hearts ace Lawrence Shankland in January.
Shankland has reportedly been a long-term target for the Light Blues and the 4th Official reported on 4 January that the Hearts skipper is interested in a switch to Ibrox.
The sticking point appears to be the sort of fee that Rangers will have to pay with Hearts set to demand at least £3million for a player who has 13 Scottish Premiership goals from 21 appearances this term.
Former Rangers man Ferguson has had Shankland on his radar as far back as his Ayr United days and thinks Clement might have to convince the board to splash the cash on the 28-year-old this month.
Speaking to Ibrox News, he said: “I’ve watched Lawrence Shankland over the last eight to 10 years, when he was at Ayr United. What you could see in the boy is he was a real good football player.
“He kind of lost his way a little bit maybe in terms of his fitness, his attitude but what you’ve got now is he’s 28/29, probably coming to the peak of his career.
“He’s always been a good finisher Lawrence Shankland but I think what you’ve allied with that when you’ve been given the captaincy at a big club like Hearts that tells you a lot about the person so he’s probably matured now.
“So, there’s a lot when we’re talking money wise – £3-5million – would that be money well spent?
“Well, I think you would get a good four or five years out of Lawrence Shankland at the peak of his powers and I just think if you put him in a Rangers side where you’re having more possession of the ball, more chances, he’s a fantastic finisher.
“He just becomes ice cold for me in the box, he knows where the goals are, can produce different types of finishes, passing it into the net, great strikes, with the head, he’s got a physicality about him as well.
“I think it’s a no-brainer so why wait until the end of the season? This is one where sometimes the manager might need to convince the board to splash the cash.
“Money’s tight we get that but I think it would be a no-brainer to get him in January.”
In other Rangers news, Graeme Souness has gushed over one “complete” Ibrox ace.