Rangers are being backed to go for Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland as they consider life after Alfredo Morelos in 2023.
The Gers may need to shake up their striking options under new boss Michael Beale.
Morelos is out of contract at the end of the season and currently looks likely to leave Ibrox on a free transfer.
Summer signing Antonio Colak has been in the goals but a recent injury has curtailed his impact.
Kemar Roofe’s injury problems are well-known at this point and it seems unlikely that he will ever play a vital role for Rangers moving forward.
If Rangers want to seriously go and challenge Celtic, they will need to find another striker to find the net on a regular basis.
Rangers urged to go for Lawrence Shankland
Beale and Ross Wilson will surely have a few names in mind as they consider signing another striker.
A name that some fans won’t have really thought about is Lawrence Shankland.
Shankland is a lifelong Rangers fan but the notion of him actually turning out for the Gers has diminished in recent times.
The Glasgow-born striker was racking up the goals for Ayr United when links to Rangers first emerged.
Shankland ended up at Dundee United instead, where he scored 40 times in 74 games.
A shock move to Belgium with Beerschot materialised in 2021, but just a year later he was back in Scotland, joining Hearts after just five goals in 28 games.
The goals are flying in again for Shankland, who has smashed 15 goals in 19 appearances for Hearts.
Rangers legend Barry Ferguson has now been quoted by the Daily Record as saying that he thinks Rangers will have an eye on Shankland.
Ferguson noted that Rangers need another striker and backed Shankland’s proven record in Scotland as a reason why the Gers should have a look at the 27-year-old.
“I think he’s been a brilliant signing for Hearts. He’s one that I’m sure Rangers will be keeping an eye on because goalscorers are hard to find,” said Ferguson. “If Morelos does go, you’ve got Colak and Roofe. Roofe for me is a really good player but there are injury concerns, so you need another striker.”
“One thing Lawrence Shankland can do in the Scottish league is put the ball in the back of the net and that’s been proven this season. It’s a brilliant return. He’s a proper penalty box striker. He can get involved in the build-up play but normally he’ll get it, lay it off and his first thought is ‘I’m getting in that box,” he added.
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