Lawrence exit talks begin as ‘great efforts’ made to buy Rangers attacker
Rangers could be set to lose Tom Lawrence in the summer as Besiktas look to prise him from Ibrox, according to IsciHaber.
The Turkish news outlet (18 January) have claimed new Besiktas manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is making “great efforts” to sign the 31-year-old, with whom he worked in the academy setup at Manchester United.
Lawrence has scored five goals in 15 appearances across all competitions for the Gers this season, playing only a sporadic role in the squad due to injuries, and sees his contract expire this summer – which is when the Super Lig outfit aim to complete a free transfer.
Solskjaer has recently been unveiled at Besiktas in what is his first managerial role since being sacked as Manchester United boss back in 2021; the Norwegian’s time with the reserves and academy coincided with Lawrence’s rise through the ranks at Carrington as a youngster.
The news report stated: “Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is making great efforts to bring his former student Tom Lawrence to the team. The Norwegian coach believes that the experienced player will make significant contributions to Besiktas in order to strengthen the attacking line.
“Transfer talks, which began in line with Solskjaer’s demands, are expected to be concluded in the summer transfer window, considering Lawrence’s current contract period.”
Rangers could lose Lawrence to Solskjaer’s Besiktas
Rangers are looking to re-establish their transfer model at Ibrox and recoup tidy sums for their outgoing stars, but this looks unlikely to be the case with Lawrence.
A player who on his day can be so impactful – as seen by his goals this season – has been missing for a large chunk of the campaign and could be leaving quietly on a free, a disappointing situation for the Gers.
Lawrence is entitled to speak to other clubs regarding a summer move for nothing, and it looks as though Solskjaer is ensuring Besiktas are at the front of the queue.
Many high-profile players have gone to Turkiye for a change of scenery down the years, often on excellent contracts, and Lawrence is now north of 30 and seeking a beneficial career move.
For Rangers, however, there will hopefully be a reassessment of some sort among the hierarchy to ensure far fewer of their senior players slip out the back door after expired contracts.
In other Rangers news, another Premier League club registers an interest in Hamza Igamane.
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