Rangers told they have a transfer 'gem' on their hands as 'exceptional' star backed to spearhead title charge

Rangers have been told they have made an astute signing capable of launching a Premiership title charge.

The Light Blues have signed Lawrence Shankland from Hearts and the striker has been joined from his previous manager at Tynecastle, Derek McInnes, who has replaced Danny Rohl in the Ibrox dugout. They will hope to help inspire the club back towards the top of the table after a disappointing third place finish.

Shankland started for Scotland against Haiti in a 1-0 win at the World Cup and was on the bench against Morocco. Kevin Kyle noted the performance wasn’t him at his best but he is in no doubt the forward will thrive at Rangers.

How will Lawrence Shankland get on at Rangers

Former Rangers, Hearts and Scotland striker Kyle told Go Radio: “You've got to remember, that's Lawrence Shankland’s first ever game at a World Cup. Considering how many caps he's actually got, he hasn't been a regular Scotland starter. He's only became the Scotland starter on the back of how good a season he's had this year with Hearts. Then a big move to Rangers. So you have to factor in all these things that have happened to him in the quick succession of losing a title.

“Then getting your dream move to your boyhood heroes and then all of a sudden starting your first game at a World Cup for Scotland when, I don't know how many starts he's had before, but it wouldn't have been too many. So there is that expectation and pressure of that situation.

“So we can allow him maybe an indifferent performance. I think he's an exceptional player. I think Rangers have got a right gem on their hands with next season. He'll definitely score the goals Rangers probably lacked this year to really mount a title challenge towards the end of the season.”

Why did Lawrence Shankland join Rangers?

Shankland said upon joining Rangers last month: “I am delighted to get this opportunity, it feels like a long time coming to be honest, the amount of times I’ve been rumoured with it, but I am just delighted to get it done and to be a Rangers player. A lot of hard graft has gone in to get to this point, and I want to come here and be a successful Rangers player.

I’ve just had to remain focused on my job at hand, but obviously, when I heard the interest was real this week, I was really keen to get it done. Rangers is my boyhood club, and it has always been a dream to play here. The club is in a position where they want to get back to winning silverware more regularly. I want to be a big part of that, and that's what I come here to do.”

“The last two or three years have been huge in terms of development of the leadership side. Obviously, it’s not easy to be captain, Hearts are another big club, and there are a lot of pressures as well. It's a responsibility I feel I've dealt with pretty well. There have been a couple of tough moments in there as well with Hearts that we had to deal with and come through. We had a good season last year, but I now come here with all those learning curves done, and I feel like I am in a really good spot in my career to join Rangers.”

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