Why Rangers should still be targeting Lawrence Shankland as Cyriel Dessers debate sparked
11/12/2024 11:30 AM
The Lawrence Shankland debate seemed to come around during every transfer window for a while.
Should Rangers make their move for the Hearts striker or shouldn’t they?
To some it seemed a no-brainer, a striker who knew the Premiership and more crucially had a proven track record of finding the net in it. There are also the rumoured Gers allegiances.
To others, he was in his late 20s and so had no sell-on value, and there was also doubts about his ability to make the step up to a bigger club.
There was also the fact publicly stated they would be looking for upwards of £5million for their captain and talisman, even last summer with only a year left on his deal.
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Rangers told they should still go for Shankland
Shankland is now coming into the final months of his Hearts contract and will be able to speak to other clubs about a pre-contract in January, or even move that month if the Tynecastle club can be tempted into accepting a lower fee.
Ordinarily, that would have the vultures circling and it would be seen as a shrewd bit of business for a club like Rangers.
But the goals have dried up at just the wrong time for the 29-year-old.
After bursting the net more than 50 times across two seasons in maroon, Shankland only has one goal this season.
But Alan Hutton insists Gers should still be looking to get him in.
Asked that question on The Premier Sports Scottish Football Social Club, he said: “They should have done it before. Of course I would still take him. You don’t become a bad player overnight.
“I have always said he’s getting in the right areas, he’s probably just snatching at things a little bit. He feels that he needs to, as captain, be that guy and it is just not quite happening for him. He is a good player and I would go and get him. In a Rangers team he would score goals.”
Cyriel Dessers debate
Cyriel Dessers is the man starting week-in-week-out for Rangers and, unlike Shankland, is finding the net.
But the Nigerian continues to frustrate with all-round performances and missed chances.
Hutton admits he’s not the type of striker that can bring the league title back to Ibrox, saying: “At this moment in time no. There is no getting away from that. I get that but Rangers are where they are. We’ve spoke about it all season. We understand they are not where they want to be but unfortunately they are, so you have to deal with it.”
Michael Stewart added: “His all-round game as well. Look at Lawrence Shankland at the moment. He has scored one goal this season but his all-round game is actually still there. His hold up and link up play is pretty good. Look at that through ball he plays for Vargas..”
But Hutton offered a partial defence of Dessers, insisting: “What would you prefer? If Dessers had one goal and his game and link up was a little bit better, that would be better? No he is there to score goals, Michael. Are you winding me up?”
