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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
David Irvine

Boyd questions why obvious Rangers transfer option Shankland was overlooked

Kris Boyd has questioned why Rangers didn't move to sign Lawrence Shankland from Hearts in the summer.

The Ibrox hero has been left confused over the refusal to make a move for the Scotland international despite consistent performances in the Scottish Premiership.

Instead, Michael Beale looked outside the box for attacking reinforcements in the summer. And he was backed heavily to bring in the likes of Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers, Danilo and Abdallah Sima.

But Boyd reckons a move for Shankland may well have been wrongly overlooked as he bemoaned the lack of scoring touch against Celtic at Ibrox.

On Sky Sports, he commented: "I know it's easy in hindsight maybe but you've got something that has happened in the past, it happened to myself.

"You're scoring against everybody else, yes you are going to be judged on the big games, I totally get that.

"But for the money that has been spent, why don't you go and get a Lawrence Shankland - somebody who knows the league, who scores goals.

"You can then say to yourself, well the pressure is on to find one out and out number nine who can lead the line in the big games.

"You know he is going to take care of the rest, why don't you?"

Fellow pundit James McFadden agreed as he insisted Shankland would bring guaranteed goals to either of the Glasgow clubs.

"By the way, there is more to Lawrence Shankland's game than goals as well, his all-round play is excellent," said McFadden.

"I agree with you, you look at the money that has been spent on the players that Rangers have brought in...And I know sometimes you look at it and say, 'Can they do it in Europe, can they do it in the big games? '.

"Generally, barring the brilliant run, you're getting the qualifiers, you're getting the group stage, you may get another game after. So you're getting maybe eight games maximum in Europe.

"You are judged on winning leagues, you are not judged on European trophies or massive European runs. You are judged on winning leagues and trophies.

"Lawrence Shankland is a player that will score goals in a Rangers team - or a Celtic team for that matter. I don't want to burst your bubble big man!

"But in a team like Celtic or Rangers, Lawrence Shankland could score goals, no doubt."

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