Rangers locked in internal Shankland talks as funds now available for signing - report

Rangers have held a series of discussions internally on a move to sign Lawrence Shankland from Hearts, the Daily Record reports.

According to Keith Jackson via the paper’s website on 29 July the Ibrox board has made clear to Philippe Clement that Sam Lammer’s permanent sale to FC Twente means the money is now there to pursue the Tynecastle striker.

The Dutchman has returned to the Eredivisie for £2.8million and the Gers boss is said to have warmed to the idea of signing Shankland after missing out on a treble last term with Cyriel Dessers up front.

The Belgian had previously held reservations over whether the Scotland international was suited to his preferred style of pressing from the front [Rangers Review, 24 July], and now must decide whether to move for him or use the cash to strengthen in other areas.

Philippe Clement must decide on Rangers striker bid

Whether Shankland is the answer to the what is missing at Ibrox divides opinion, with Clement clearly on the side that believed he wasn’t until recently.

Months of links saw the January window and most of the summer one now pass without an offer made, but the likes of Ally McCoist [Scottish Sun, 21 June] and Kris Boyd [Sky Sports, 3 March, 11.07am] have suggested Rangers would be Scottish Premiership champions now if he had arrived in the winter.

Dessers was left as the last number nine standing last term and responded with 22 goals despite plenty of misses, and the comparisons have often been between the Nigerian international and his Jambos counterpart.

But if the Gers were ultimately able to replace Lammers with Shankland there would surely be few who could argue it was a positive trade off.

However, it is understandable that Steven Naismith and the Jam Tarts will hardly be rolling out the red carpet for Clement and Nils Koppen to come and take their start striker away so it wouldn’t be straight forward.

But the 28-year-old himself is said to be ready to jump at the chance if it is put in front of him [Scottish Daily Mail, 1 July].

So unless it is a matter of choosing between Shankland or refitting the whole of the rest of the squad then an offer would make sense after 59 Hearts goals in just two years.

And with further sales on the cards to follow Lammers’ exit there should be more money coming in to help fund other signings anyway.

In other Rangers news, a Premier League ace that the Light Blues have a “genuine interest” in is expected to move within days.

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