Lawrence Shankland ‘absolutely’ wanted at Rangers as Abdallah Sima too expensive from Brighton
Rangers should “absolutely” make a push to sign Lawrence Shankland this summer, says Derek Ferguson.
The ex-Ibrox favourite admits the Hearts captain is so good “you would have bitten your hand off” to get him to the club in the January transfer window, amid major speculation over a move.
And with the pundit convinced that current loan star Abdallah Sima will be too expensive so sign permanently from Brighton he sees it as a “no-brainer” to instead go for the man who he believes is the best player in Scotland “by a distance” this season at Tynecastle.
He exclusively told Ibrox News: “I don’t think we’re going to be able to afford Sima. I don’t know what kind of price-tag that Brighton would be looking for, there’s been talk of £10m-£15million.
“Rangers cannae go anywhere near that I think at the moment, [but] Shankland, no-brainer for me, absolutely, Scotland Player of the Year by a distance in my opinion.
“If we could have got him in the January transfer [window] for around about £4m-£5m you would have bitten your hand off to get him. He’s proved this season how good a football player he is and how good a finisher he is.
“I think his allegiance sways towards Rangers, I know that. He’d be a terrific Rangers football player, centre-forward, I really do.
“Sima I don’t think so. Listen, he’s been great for us. He obviously took that wee injury at the weekend but hopefully he’ll be back for the [Scottish] Cup final. Nah, I don’t think we can afford him.
“But if we can get Shankland in the door, oh absolutely.”
Rangers to bring Hearts striker to Ibrox?
Sima has already indicated that he would personally be happy to stay at Rangers after an excellent season which was cut off by injury, but the decision will ultimately be made at the Amex.
Shankland, as Jambos captain, can hardly say the same but has suggested that he would be tempted by opportunities elsewhere that he wouldn’t get at Tynecastle.
As a Light Blues fan, and with months of speculation linking him to a move, it isn’t too hard to put two and two together on that, and with a year left on his contract this summer after rejecting extensions there might never be a better opportunity to sign a player who is coming off 45 SPFL goals and counting over the past two seasons.
Sima may just be possible to bring back on a second loan, dependent on what the Seagulls have planned for him, but with a year on his contract and an option for a second the Premier League club are bound to want at least the £6m they paid for him if not more to do a permanent deal [The Athletic].
In other Rangers news, a manager is looking to buy a “great” Ibrox forward after issuing a confirmed transfer update.
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