Pat Nevin shares new Rangers and Celtic title verdict amid Lawrence Shankland transfer latest
Pat Nevin believes Rangers can pip Celtic to the Scottish Premiership title should they sign Lawrence Shankland from Hearts.
The Gers have been playing catch-up at the summit for a number of months, but they sit just five points off top spot with a game in hand.
Former Scotland winger Nevin still has Celtic down as narrow favourites to prevail, but believes that will change if Rangers sign Shankland.
“I’ll go 55-45 in Celtic’s favour in terms of percentage [to win the title],” Nevin said on BBC Sport’s Scottish Football Podcast [27 January, 43m 58s].
“But here’s the caveat – it depends what happens over the next four or five days in terms of forwards, and whether Rangers go and get another.
“A lot of people have mentioned Shankland. If you stuck him upfront for Rangers right now, that changes it.
“If you put Shankland upfront for Celtic, it would change it even more in their favour.
“What they do over the next few days in terms of a striker will make a huge difference.”
He’s not wrong
Cyriel Dessers’ winning strike for Rangers at St Mirren could cloud what is still a weakness in the Gers’ squad.
The Nigerian deserves credit for stepping up of late, with that now goals in back-to-back games and eight in 19 league games overall.
That is by no means a bad return, and Dessers is a better player than many gave him credit for not so long ago.
However, Shankland is a different beast right now as he has scored 14 goals in 23 league outings this term – including eight in his last eight.
The Scotland international struck 24 times last season, meanwhile, so this is a sustainable run and not just a flash in the pan.
If Rangers can add those guaranteed extra goals to Philippe Clement’s squad, it may well make all the difference in the battle for the title.
That is not to say supporters should give up hope if Shankland is not signed, but his presence would make an almighty difference over the remaining four months.
In other Rangers news, Philippe Clement has been questioned over a “strange” decision he made against St Mirren.
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