Breaking News:Philippe Clement to provide Lawrence Shankland transfer answer at Rangers
Philippe Clement will address a pool of Rangers fans at Edmiston House on Tuesday night, and is likely to face questions over Lawrence Shankland.
The prolific Hearts striker has been long linked with a switch to Ibrox following a goalscoring record of 59 goals in the last two seasons, culminating in his appearances for Scotland at Euro 2024.
Clement has never officially put forward whether he was ever concretely interested in a move for Shankland, who has been demanded by sections of the Gers support whose faith is found wanting in Cyriel Dessers despite his 22-goal haul last term, and five in six games this year.
The Daily Record [10 September] explained the premise of Tuesday’s event, which has arrived at an unfortunate time for the Belgian given the sluggish start to the campaign, and stated Shankland “could make all the difference when it comes to finishing first or second”.
Clement could be in for an uncomfortable night, as fans want answers before the season escapes from their club entirely.
Rangers boss will be asked about Lawrence Shankland
From the outside, those of a Rangers persuasion who remain unconvinced by Dessers and the goalscoring impacts of his fellow attackers will have seen Shankland as the obvious move.
Most strikers performing out of their skin for a Scottish club outside the Old Firm tend to find their way to either side of Glasgow eventually; alternatively the Premier League or a significant European division.
Shankland’s value to Hearts is priceless with his goals effectively single-handedly bringing European football to Tynecastle this year, and the 29-year-old appears the standout option for a cherry-pick at Ibrox.
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Whether Clement feels Shankland is suitable for his style of play is a decision only he and Nils Koppen fully know; the objective fact of the matter is there could simply be no feasible way in which he would not score a hatful with the chances the Gers create – see the main criticism of Dessers.
Hamza Igamane was the only striker signed among a clutch of summer arrivals – commanding a seven-figure fee – but the young Moroccan has so far only played 11 minutes of football in blue, confusing fans as to how long it would take to get him up to speed.
Shankland is ready-made, equipped for the demands of the league – the only question would be whether he could handle the mental pressure at Ibrox which is about to give Clement another test at Tuesday’s Q&A.
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