Rangers told to ditch Cyriel Dessers for ‘phenomenal’ talent who’d win title from Celtic
Tam McManus has urged Rangers to sign Hearts forward Lawrence Shankland as a replacement for Cyriel Dessers, suggesting it could be the difference in the title race.
The Gers were linked with a move for the “phenomenal” striker in January but a transfer never came to fruition, seeing Dessers remain the first choice under Philippe Clement.
Rumours of a move to Ibrox for Shankland have continued to the summer transfer window, with Clement understood to be a fan of the Hearts man after failing to secure the Scottish Premiership title.
Speaking via the PLZ Soccer Show on Monday (20 May), McManus said: “It’s the season of his dreams. To win two awards is fantastic for a player outside the Old Firm. He scored 30+ goals and got the same last season; he’s scored nearly 60 goals in two seasons for Hearts. It’s phenomenal.
“Obviously, there were massive rumours in January that he was going to Rangers and Rangers were in for him. I think if Rangers had signed him for £4million, Rangers would have won the league.
“He’s miles better than Dessers. I know Dessers has scored 20 goals but Shankland would score 40 in this Rangers team. He’s proven this season that he’s a top striker, going to the Euros this summer.
“It’s been the season of his dreams and he’s been brilliant.”
Will Rangers sign Lawrence Shankland during the summer transfer window?
A move for Shankland during the summer transfer window seems like a no-brainer for the Gers, especially after the significant amount of criticism aimed at Dessers throughout the season.
Despite notching 22 goals, and finding his form under Clement’s leadership, his all-round performances have left a lot to be desired – a problem that could be easily fixed with Shankland.
With the Scottish striker set to enter the final 12 months of his contract at Tynecastle Park, the forward should be available to Rangers for a cheap fee – in comparison to other strikers, anyway.
Clement and Nils Koppen will likely be working with a tight budget, at least until they can offload some players, but the signing of the 28-year-old is one that should require no deliberation.
With 24 league goals this season, only Celtic’s Matthew O’Riley and the Gers’ James Tavernier come remotely close with 18 and 17 goals, respectively.
Rangers’ right-back being their leading goalscorer in the league highlights one of the biggest problems at Ibrox. Shankland seems like a very quick and easy solution this summer.
In other Rangers news, Cole McKinnon is set for a breakthrough due to a new Ibrox plan.
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