£7m Rangers goal can turn into Ibrox’s new talisman
It felt like Glasgow Rangers have been making an actual assertion earlier this summer time, having swooped in to pluck Lawrence Shankland from Tynecastle forward of the World Cup.
As soon as on the books at Ibrox as a teenager, Shankland’s return to Glasgow had been a protracted whereas within the making, having appeared nearly sure to make the swap a 12 months earlier.
Because it proved, the Gers proceeded to signal three strikers over the following six months, solely to finish up again on the Scotland star’s door once more, pouncing on the prospect to elevate him from his Hearts contract.
Having since seen Derek McInnes observe him to the Gers, it felt like a match made in heaven. It has been something however to this point.
Why Shankland woes sum up Rangers’ season to this point
Bringing in McInnes and Shankland, following their title cost final season in Edinburgh, seemed to be a case of the Ibrox board sending a message. They needed to construct a crew able to successful now, somewhat than in just a few years time.
The previous Jambos skipper had hit 16 Premiership targets throughout 2025/26, sustaining his remarkably constant kind at this stage. He precisely what this Rangers crew was crying out for.
Quick ahead only a matter of months and it actually hasn’t panned out as anticipated, with even a transfer that was thought of a positive factor having gone sideways to this point.
In all, Shankland has scored solely as soon as in a Rangers shirt so far, ranging from the bench on 4 events already, with McInnes shifting to only one up high.
The choice to put in the 31-year-old as captain is now coming below the microscope because of his lowered function, epitomising what has been a desperately poor summer time for the membership to this point.
|
Premiership 25/26 – Targets per 90 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Participant |
GP90 |
Targets |
|
Chermiti |
0.68 |
15 |
|
Stamatelopoulous |
0.62 |
6 |
|
Shankland |
0.58 |
16 |
|
Nygren |
0.57 |
16 |
|
Maswanhise |
0.53 |
17 |
|
Bokila |
0.50 |
5 |
|
Miovski |
0.48 |
7 |
|
B. Graham |
0.46 |
4 |
|
Bowie |
0.45 |
8 |
|
Dolcek |
0.45 |
5 |
Out of Europe and at present eight factors behind rivals Celtic on the summit as issues stand, albeit having performed a recreation much less, McInnes is giving Russell Martin a run for his cash when it comes to rotten begins within the Ibrox dugout.
Even his former talisman, Shankland, would not look more likely to bail him out of hassle. Can anybody?
The signing Rangers must make to save lots of their season
The 54-year-old coach could plead for endurance after overseeing a squad overhaul this summer time, however he cannot argue with the truth that the membership simply aren’t seeing a return on their funding at current.
Girona’s Kim Min-su has made it 12 signings in whole to this point for the Glasgow giants, whereas Portland Timbers’ striker Kevin Kelsy seems set to observe go well with sooner somewhat than later.
Even that may not be the top of issues by all accounts, with the seek for one other right-winger seeing the Gentle Blues keep their curiosity in Brighton and Hove Albion’s Amario Cozier-Duberry.
Intriguingly too, stories in Turkey have indicated that there may additionally be hope of a reunion with Vaclav Cerny, the Czech winger’s future trying unsure at Bestikas.
The suggestion is that the 2 golf equipment have been holding talks relating to a possible return to Ibrox for the 28-year-old, with the Gers lodging a verbal supply of round €8m (£7m).
Bestikas, for his or her half, are asking for nearer to €10m (£9m), albeit with the Tremendous Lig outfit already lining up a substitute within the type of Benfica’s Dodi Lukebakio.
Signing Shankland could have appeared an actual coup on the time, however this deal would take the cake, not least contemplating Cerny has already been there and performed it in a Rangers shirt.
Considered one of a string of mortgage signings to have sparkled at Ibrox, the fleet-footed winger was immense in a dismal 2024/25 marketing campaign, scoring and helping 27 targets in 52 video games in all competitions.
On mortgage from Wolfsburg on the time, Cerny significantly excelled in Europe for the Outdated Agency aspect, scoring and helping eight targets in simply 12 Europa League outings that season. Shankland, in contrast, hasn’t appeared as much as scratch on the continent, as current outings have proven.
That is to not say Cerny wasn’t additionally successful within the Premiership, scoring 12 and helping an extra 4, whereas boasting a stellar common of two.5 key passes and 1.4 profitable dribbles per recreation.
Be it as a goalscorer or supplier, he’s a person who can do all of it, somebody to win a recreation on his personal if required.
Maybe Shankland was that man again at Tynecastle, but it surely hasn’t been seen to this point at Ibrox, with the addition of Cerny more likely to be what is required if this season is to correctly ignite transferring ahead.
He may nicely be the talismanic determine Rangers are ready for.
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