Rangers lauded for 'incredible' business which could 'close the gap' on Celtic despite overdue claim made
Ex Rangers and Liverpool man believes new signing could be a game changer
Rangers’ new signing Lawrence Shankland is an ‘incredible piece of business’ - but it should’ve been done years ago, according to former midfielder Charlie Adam.
The Scotland international striker will join Rangers once the summer transfer window opens on a two-year deal - fulfilling his dream of joining his ‘boyhood club’. While Adam was impressed by Rangers’ ambition to acquire the Hearts captain, who they signed effectively for free by triggering a break clause, he also claimed it’s been long overdue.
Now at the age of 30, Shankland has been a serial goalscorer in every professional division in Scotland and his links to Rangers started as early as 2018, when he was at Ayr United. Three clubs and eight years later, they’ve finally got their man, but is it too late?
Shankland can help ‘close the gap’ on Celtic
Despite Adam’s dismay at how long it took Rangers to sign the striker, he still believes the goals of Shankland can help Rangers ‘close the gap’ on their title rivals. The Light Blues finished 10 points behind champions Celtic last season and eight behind second placed Hearts. He told Betfred: “Well I think if you asked a lot of supporters, it’s probably a year too late.
“They probably should have signed him last summer under Russell Martin. I thought he was a top performer for Hearts last year and he had a terrific season.It would have been a tough decision leaving Hearts off the back of last season, but what an agent to get him to Rangers, his boyhood club, on a free transfer. He’s been desperate to play there all his career and he’s got that opportunity now, so let’s see if he can score the 20 goals that can help them close the gap.”
Adam lauds ‘incredible’ Rangers business
The former Liverpool and Stoke City midfielder won two major honours during his time at Rangers and was part of the squad that reached the UEFA Cup final in 2008, before enjoying a successful career in the English Premier League. Adam managed to uphold his performance levels when catching his big break - and is confident Shankland can do the same at Rangers.
He continued: “These negotiations wouldn’t have just happened overnight, they would have been going on for a few weeks, so to keep up his level of consistency has been incredible. People wanted it to happen, but there were no rumours of it and to realise it was a free transfer was an incredible piece of business from Rangers.”
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