Godwin ObajeSteven Naismith Backs Lawrence Shankland for Rangers Move
Former Hearts boss Steven Naismith has expressed surprise that Rangers have not yet made a move for Lawrence Shankland – and believes the prolific striker could be the perfect fit at Ibrox.
Shankland, who recently became a free agent following the expiration of his Hearts contract, has been one of the Scottish Premiership’s most reliable goal scorers over the past two seasons, notching 40 goals in all competitions.
Naismith, who worked closely with Shankland during his time in charge at Tynecastle, believes the striker would bring a crucial mix of technical intelligence and goal threat to Russell Martin’s side.
“In one respect, I’m surprised [Rangers haven’t made a move for Shankland],” said Naismith. “I’m surprised because I think he’s as safe a bet as you’re going to get to scoring goals in Scotland. I think what goes against him is probably his mobility and people looking at him. But for me, he’s a really intelligent player now.”
While concerns over Shankland’s mobility have persisted, Naismith insists the 28-year-old’s technical ability and tactical awareness outweigh any perceived shortcomings.
“He’s a good link between midfield and attack as well as a goal scorer,” Naismith continued. “The other dynamic which I think would probably come into any thought of signing him is his age. He’s somebody who’s probably seen in and around his prime.
“I’ve seen it with Kris Boyd at Rangers, who was probably similar in terms of their goal return. Walter Smith never played him in Europe and never played him in Old Firms. But Walter Smith was a manager with loads of experience and knew how to handle him.
“Now, I’m not saying Shanks is like-for-like but those are the kind of challenges that you have to think about.”
Despite being available on a free transfer, Shankland is expected to attract significant interest both domestically and abroad. However, Naismith feels Rangers would be wise to prioritise players with an understanding of the club’s culture and demands.
“I’m sure Shanks will definitely have some offers because for two seasons he’s been unbelievable,” Naismith said. “He’s really intelligent. Where he picks positions up, his touch. He’s got a real finesse about his touch. And then he’s got that calmness in the final third that makes him different. So, I definitely think he could fit in. He fits a lot of the criteria.”
The former Scotland international also pointed to the importance of having a core group of players who understand what it means to represent Rangers.
“If you look at the most successful Celtic and Rangers teams, they’ve had a core group of British players, players that have grown up with an affiliation,” he added. “You cannot underestimate how valuable that is. And that’s not just guys that start every week. That’s guys within the squad that will do anything to be part of the squad. And they might just be coming in as squad players, but a lot of the guys grab the opportunity and take it.”
Whether Rangers act on Naismith’s advice remains to be seen, but with Shankland’s availability and proven track record, the case for bringing him to Ibrox is stronger than ever.
Godwin Obaje
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