Derek Ferguson drops £6m Rangers transfer verdict on Lawrence Shankland, he’s at the ‘peak of his powers’
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…
Rangers should be willing to pay as much as £6million to land Lawrence Shankland in a deadline-busting move from Hearts, according to Derek Ferguson.
The Scotland international striker, 28, has been linked with a switch to Ibrox throughout the whole of January transfer window but thus far a move has not come to fruition.
The Fourth Official reported via Patreon [31 January] that Shankland may be the “last piece of Rangers’ puzzle” ahead of the February 1 deadline despite another new offer from the Jambos.
Ferguson acknowledges that Shankland, who is top scorer in the Scottish Premiership with 14 goals this season, could make a huge difference to Philippe Clement’s squad but doubts now whether a deal will get done this close to the deadline.
Speaking to Ibrox News, he said: “I don’t think they’ve got the money I think that deal would have been done and dusted because there’s one thing for sure, when you look here in Scotland, there are two players who have stood out.
“The other one hasn’t been linked too much, Bojan Miovski at Aberdeen, he’s been absolutely top-drawer, but I think if there was a deal to be done I think Shankland would have been in through the door.
“I don’t think that’s gonna materialise, I think they’re looking elsewhere. People look at it, he’s 28 years old, there’s not gonna be the sell-on value but at the end of the day it’s about winning league titles when you’re at Rangers and sometimes you need to fork out that money.
“And if it’s £4, £5, even £6million and you believe in the player you go and get him. “So I’m thinking maybe now Philippe Clement doesn’t fancy him as much as we all thought.
“I think you look at a lot of pundits and fans (they would want him), would I have him personally at Rangers? I would have him in a minute because I think he’s playing at the peak of his powers, he’s the right age, and he’s captain of a big club in Scotland at Hearts which tells you he’s matured.
“I think it’s a no-brainer but at the moment we’re going into the last day before the window shuts I don’t see it happening, I think he’s been offered an improved offer at Hearts, he seems quite happy there, but have Rangers really wanted him? I believe the player would like to ply his trade at Rangers but I don’t see hit happening now.”
In other Rangers news, a warning has been sent amid renewed interest in Jack Butland from Nottingham Forest.
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