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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Ewan Paton

Martin Boyle Hibs to Rangers transfer suggestion floated

Kenny Miller has floated the idea that Rangers should go after Martin Boyle before the end of the transfer window.

The former Gers striker wants to see Michael Beale bring in the Hibs attacker as another option in the forward areas.

Fashion Sakala was sold to the Saudi Pro League last week, and Miller believes the Light Blues now lack an out-and-out pacey wide player.

With Ryan Kent's summer departure also taken into account, Miller would love to see Boyle drafted in at Ibrox.

He wrote in the Daily Record: "Michael Beale might have already signed nine new players for Rangers this summer. But there’s still something missing at Ibrox.

"And this isn’t a knee-jerk over-reaction to a poor defeat at Kilmarnock on the opening day of the league season. Or to a pretty slow, pedestrian last hour against 10-man Servette in midweek. No, I’ve been talking about it from Michael’s FIRST spell at the club under Steven Gerrard.

"We know that, as coaches, they both like their wide players to play narrow and inside the pitch. But sometimes you need a Plan B. Your squad is your armoury. You need different players to offer different things. That’s why I think Michael will be looking to get a quick, direct wide player in before the transfer window shuts as well as another centre-back.

"But before Rangers close for business – and especially after letting Fashion Sakala go – I’d like to see another attacker in.

"And they don’t have to look too far for a potential solution. For me, Rangers should be looking at Martin Boyle from Hibs. He would give Beale something he doesn’t have.

"Boyle can play in-field if necessary – he’s done that at Easter Road often enough playing off a striker. But crucially, he’s a danger out wide and commits defenders. He can beat players and puts opposition teams on the back foot.

"In Rangers’ first couple of games this season, that’s what’s been lacking. I’ve felt it for a long time. Guys like Joe Aribo, Scott Arfield – or others in that position – it wasn’t their natural game to stretch teams.

"To do that, you need someone with pace, clever movement and good dribbling ability. And the player with those abilities in our league is Boyle. For the last few years, Rangers obviously had Ryan Kent.

"He’s a gifted, technical player but we all know his numbers weren’t good enough. Boyle might not be as technical as Kent. But one thing’s for sure – in the Premiership, he’s effective.

"He can dribble, he’s fast, his movement is excellent. And he’s hungry to score. In the last 30 years, a key part of Rangers’ and Celtic’s recruitment has been to take the best players from smaller clubs in Scotland.

"So it’s an obvious option for Beale. Maybe his name has been mentioned already inside Ibrox. Because Boyle would add something new to his armoury.

"Sam Lammers, Kieran Dowell, Todd Cantwell, Tom Lawrence, even Danilo – none will want to play wide. They want to be central. There’s not a natural No.7 or No.11 in Michael’s squad.

"Boyle would give him that. He’d give Rangers real penetration and running power. Listen, if Plan A is working and combinations are clean and slick, that’s fine.

"If Rangers are creating chances and scoring playing a certain way, great. But in specific games, when it isn’t, you need something different.

"Signing Boyle – or a player with his attributes and offers a different threat – wouldn’t be a bad thing for Rangers. Boyle is proven in this league – in fact, he’s terrorised Rangers before.

"Remember, that League Cup semi-final when he got a hat-trick? He was electric."

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