Rangers are “100% aware” of Lawrence Shankland’s ability and it is a “fact” that he would bring them 25 league goals if he moves to Ibrox, says Kenny Miller.
The Sky Sports pundit admitted on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard on 23 April that he doesn’t know whether the Hearts star is a realistic target for the Light Blues this summer, given the lack of resale value present in signing a 28-year-old, but is certain he would be a “really good” addition.
Gordon Dalziel agreed that it would be that issue that is most likely to put Rangers off a move this summer, but tipped the “terrific” Scotland international as a better choice than Aberdeen’s Bojan Miovski despite the latter being younger.
Miller said, via the Daily Record: “They are 100 per cent aware of what he is doing, with the fact that he is a Rangers fan and there is a lot of hype surrounding him. I am just wondering with how Rangers went about their business in terms of recruitment in January, if he is fitting the profile in terms of his age and potential to resell.
“But what he is going to bring is 25 league goals, that’s a fact. Sometimes you have got to balance it up. There has been a lot of talk this season that the lack of a player like that could cost Rangers in the title race. I still think he’d be a really good signing, but whether he is actually on the radar as a realistic target for Nils Koppen and Philippe Clement, I genuinely don’t know.”
Dalziel added: “He is terrific. But I think the only thing that would put Rangers off is the resell. That is so important to clubs. If you are going to go in there and pay Hearts a few quid for him and he bangs in the goals, there always comes a time where you would like to cash in and make a profit.
“Miovski is only 24 and we always hear the argument every week of ‘would he be a better option?’ But I am a Shankland fan and he’d score goals for Rangers all day long.”
Hearts captain is a Rangers fan
If the Light Blues want to land one of the top proven sources of goals in the Scottish Premiership they arguably won’t get a better chance than with a move for Shankland this summer.
The Tynecastle skipper should be relatively affordable, at least compared to what he would have cost in January and the price of comparable alternatives, with his contract running down, and has already hinted that he is interested in such a move.
And it would potentially be easier, although not necessarily easy, to do a deal with Hearts than it would be with Aberdeen for Miovski.
There have been claims that a deal is very much on the cards once the season ends but, as ever, all will depend on what budget is available when extensive work is expected to be required for a second summer running.
As many as 15 have been tipped to leave as Clement has a clear out so whatever money is available will need to go a long way to fill the gaps.
But while there would be little prospect of Rangers making their money back on the transfer market if they did decide to spend on Shankland he might pay for himself if his goals were to fire the club to the title and better European money.
It goes without saying that Hearts would like to keep him but since he has rejected all his contract extension offers it feels like now or never if the Light Blues are going to pull the trigger.
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