The information that has taken Scottish soccer by storm over the previous 48 hours is that Glasgow Rangers are set to signal Lawrence Shankland on a free switch.
An extension clause in his contract with Hearts final summer season means the Scotland worldwide will go away the membership without spending a dime regardless of signing a three-year contract.
Shankland is at the moment seeking to signal a two-year contract at Ibrox and can reportedly bear a medical test on Tuesday earlier than the remaining formalities are accomplished.
The Jam Tarts captain has scored 16 targets within the Scottish Premiership this season and could possibly be an important addition to Danny Rolle’s facet as Scotland’s confirmed scorer.
Rangers need to construct a staff that may compete for the title subsequent time period, and signing Shankland could possibly be step one in creating the spine Scotland wants.
Rangers might have bid accepted for Premiership star
Rangers’ earlier title-winning groups have featured robust Scottish gamers, relationship again to Allan McGregor, Ryan Jack, Kris Boyd, Barry Ferguson and Stephen Naismith.
The membership’s most profitable groups have featured a core of home expertise, however the present squad, previous to Shankland’s arrival, in all probability doesn’t have a Scottish participant in its greatest XI.
However in line with Soccer Insider, Glasgow Rangers need to change that by signing Dundee star Luke Graham in the summertime switch window.
After finishing the deal for Shankland this week, the Mild Blues are hoping to pounce on their Premiership rivals within the coming weeks and produce the central defender to Ibrox.
The paper claims it “believes” Dundee will settle for an acceptable provide, which means a bid for the centre-back could possibly be accepted if Gers construct up sufficient funds.
Nonetheless, Soccer Insider claims English Championship facet Portsmouth are additionally inquisitive about Graham, having tried to signal him within the January switch window, including that Rangers would wish to outbid Graham in the event that they need to safe his signature.
How Luke Graham can change into Rangers’ subsequent Barry Ferguson
The aforementioned Ferguson, who performed within the dugout final season, made 424 appearances in his two seasons at Ibrox, successful 5 Premiership titles and captaining the facet on a number of events.
Graham didn’t put on the Dundee armband in 2025/26, however his performances within the Premiership present he has the qualities to be a defensive chief.
|
25/26 Premiership |
luke graham |
|---|---|
|
Look |
36 |
|
the purpose |
2 |
|
Clearance has occurred |
234 |
|
clear sheet |
6 |
|
received a duel |
200 |
|
Floor duel success price |
62% |
|
Aerial duel success price |
70% |
Regardless of being simply 22 years outdated and in his first full season within the prime flight, the Scottish teenager was a dominant performer in the back of the staff, dominating opposing attackers in duels on the deck and within the air.
Graham is an unbelievable duel winner, with extra wins than any Rangers participant within the league, and will function a task mannequin for Roll as an impressively robust central defender, with Roll nonetheless having the potential to develop.
He could possibly be the following Ferguson at Ibrox, having proven a constant presence on the coronary heart of the staff, serving to Gers win the title along with his high quality and management, and on the similar time being on the proper age to play a whole bunch of occasions for the membership.
The Mild Blues’ greatest problem could also be convincing their centre-back to maneuver to Ibrox earlier than pursuing his dream of taking part in within the Premier League, supervisor Stephen Pressley says.
However what Rangers can do is persuade Graham that taking part in weekly at Ibrox in title rivalry and European competitors will increase his profile and provides a Premier League staff a platform to point out what he’s able to.
Nathan Patterson, Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey are latest examples of gamers who ended up transferring to the Premier League after doing effectively at Rangers, though Bassey moved to Ajax earlier than transferring to Fulham.
It is going to be as much as Rolle and the board to seal a cope with Dundee and persuade Graham to depart. As a result of he could possibly be the membership’s subsequent Ferguson, a star for Scotland and a pacesetter who can assist them get again to successful trophies.
Higher than Shankland: Rangers might settle for a £4m bid to signal new striker
Rangers might signal a greater striker than Lawrence Shankland this summer season for £4m.
