'Quite Alarming' - Pundit reacts to Shankland slump at Hearts as free Rangers switch on cards

Rangers haven’t been put off Lawrence Shankland despite his “alarming” dip in form this season, says Derek Ferguson.

The Scotland striker has been linked to an Ibrox switch for over a year, but after scoring a combined 59 goals for Hearts over the previous two seasons he has only managed one in 18 appearances this term.

Ferguson has been a fan of the 29-year-old for years and has speculated that his struggles this term and his poor body language might be a result of disappointment caused after a Rangers move didn’t materialise in the summer.

Philippe Clement was said to be involved in internal discussions over whether to move to sign Shankland after banking the cash from selling Sam Lammers to FC Twente [Daily Record, 29 July] but ultimately decided not to.

However, the Jambos now expect their captain to leave on a free at the end of the season after failing to sign him to a new deal and Ferguson is convinced the lifelong Light Blues fan is worth snapping up for nothing.

Cyriel Dessers remains the main source of goals for Clement but is wildly inconsistent, Danilo’s injury issues have been an ongoing issue, and Hamza Igamane has yet to fully establish himself since arriving in the summer.

So at long last Shankland could finally be headed to Ibrox for next term with the need to send a major fee to Tynecastle removed.

Rangers could snap up Tynecastle captain for nothing

Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News Ferguson admitted the drop in form was serious, saying: “Big time, I’ve watched him the last couple of games, and I’ll tell you what, it was quite alarming. 

“I watched him up at St Johnstone (2 November), his body language was terrible, so it was. He played the lone role there, wasn’t enjoying it, you could see that clearly, and [Kenneth] Vargas came on and joined him up top for a short spell to help him out a little bit.

“But no he looks way off it. His confidence has took a wee dunt at the moment. If you go back to last season and look at some of the opportunities he’s had, some of his overall play, he’s not playing well at all.

“So I was quite surprised he was included in that Scotland squad as well. He’s not having a good time.

“But is that down to the disappointment of not getting the move? Because he would have loved to have been at Rangers.

“But the thing with Shankland is he’s got to be putting that aside and he’s got to be putting in better performances than what he’s shown. He just looks out of sorts. A worry.”

But despite that Ferguson doesn’t believe it has ended the chances of a Gers switch, adding: “No it’ll not put them off, there’s a good player there. 

“I’ll be honest, I’ve been a big fan of Shankland over the course of the last number of years. I watched him way back in the day when he was at Airdrie United.

“I think sometimes in the past he’s been a wee bit guilty of feeling a wee bit sorry for himself.

“But I thought going on the last couple of years when he was given the armband at Hearts he’s a different character now, a different person, but I’ve been quite surprised at him because I’ve watched him and it was more so that body language that was a wee worry.

“But listen, would we take him on a free? Absolutely. I just think he’s one of these guys, because he’s a Rangers man, he’s Rangers through and through, he would love that opportunity.

“And going into the twilight of his career I would still take him on a free. Bad business from Hearts’ point of view to be honest, they should have tried to get in some money.

“But they’ve not, their mistake, so if we had the opportunity to get him in the summer I’d take it in a minute”

In other Rangers news, a billionaire has held talks over major investment at Ibrox.

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