Rangers: Lawrence Shankland transfer verdict issued live on Sky Sports after Motherwell loss
Kris Boyd claimed Rangers failing to sign Lawrence Shankland could come back to haunt them in their SPFL title race.
The Sky Sports pundit spoke live on the broadcaster’s coverage of Hearts v Celtic on 3 March, a day after the Light Blues were unexpectedly beaten 2-1 at home by Motherwell, suggesting Cyriel Dessers and Fabio Silva’s inability to find the net in defeat had highlighted the lack of a proven goalscorer arriving in January.
Shankland was heavily linked to an Ibrox switch before and during the transfer window, but the Portuguese youngster arriving on loan was the only central forward signed.
Boyd said (11.07am): “When you’ve got a goalscorer in your ranks it gives you more of an opportunity to win games of football.
“That’s why they get paid the most money. That’s why everybody needs one. I just look at Rangers, they were creating lots of chances, and when you look at Dessers and Fabio Silva the numbers can be false sometimes.
“Games like that yesterday, when everybody’s not firing on all cylinders, you just need somebody to sniff something out and get in the area to put it in the back of the net.
“And you’ve got to say it might come back to haunt Rangers not going and getting Lawrence Shankland, or someone in January to score goals.”
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Boyd’s point is one that will come up every time if and when Philippe Clement’s side fail to win between now and the end of the season.
Heading into January a striker looked the most obvious need, with Danilo injured long-term, Kemar Roofe hit by repeated fitness set backs, and Sam Lammers struggling badly.
In fairness to both Dessers and Silva the pair have stepped up in recent weeks as Rangers won 11 on the spin to relegate the subject down the agenda, despite doubts over the Nigerian’s ability to be clinical and the Portuguese’s suitability as a number nine.
They have each looked strong recently, with the former scoring seven times in league and cup since the start of 2024, and the latter adding three more.
Silva did win a penalty at Ibrox in defeat to Motherwell and perhaps it is harsh to immediately dismiss the pair after the first loss in over two months, although Dessers does miss plenty even when he is among the goals.
But how they respond will be vital now to determine whether they can still fire the Gers to a title or whether £4.5million going towards Mohamed Diomande rather than Shankland will prove decisive.
The Scotland international again showed what they are missing, having one strike against Celtic narrowly ruled out by VAR for offside before netting anyway after the break.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blue are now eyeing up adding a goalscoring midfielder on a free transfer.
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