Lawrence Shankland's Transfer to Rangers: A New Era Begins

Lawrence Shankland is cutting short his holiday to fly back to Glasgow. Rangers do not ask a player to do that unless the deal is close, and this one is all but done.

The Hearts captain, the striker who has carried Tynecastle on his back for two seasons, is heading for Ibrox on a free transfer thanks to a clause in his contract. At 30, he has agreed a two-year deal with an option for a third, and he is about to sign for the club he supported as a boy. The move reshapes the top end of the Rangers squad – and potentially the dressing room itself.

Shankland the captain-in-waiting?

Shankland is not just arriving to score goals. He is walking into a leadership vacuum. Rangers are weighing up whether the Scotland forward could leapfrog the current contenders and take the armband.

Emmanuel Fernandez and Nicolas Raskin have both been mentioned as possible captains, but the idea of the boyhood Rangers fan, fresh from leading Hearts, stepping straight into the role is firmly on the table. A free transfer, a proven scorer in Scotland, and a ready-made leader: it is the sort of move that changes the tone of a summer.

The message is clear. Rangers want personality as much as productivity.

Defence on the agenda: Luke Graham chase heats up

Behind Shankland, the rebuild continues. At centre-half, Rangers have been told there will be no bargain route to Luke Graham.

The Dundee defender, 22, has serious admirers at Ibrox, but Portsmouth are already in the race and had a bid knocked back in January. If Rangers want him now, they will have to outbid the English club and move decisively. No clause, no discount, no sentiment – just a straight fight for a young defender with resale value.

Gassama’s future back in play

Out wide, the Djeidi Gassama situation has swung back into focus. Monaco tried to take him in January with a £10m loan-to-buy package, only to be rebuffed by Rangers.

That rejection did not close the door permanently. Both club and player are open to revisiting a similar structure this summer. The winger’s pace and upside make him a valuable asset, but also a tempting sale if the numbers climb high enough. One big offer could fund two or three of the other moves Rangers are pushing.

Dan Neil talks, Joe Gelhardt complications

Midfield is another key battleground. Dan Neil, out of contract at Sunderland after finishing the season on loan at Ipswich Town, is set for talks with Rangers. The 24-year-old played his part in Ipswich’s promotion to the Premier League and now faces a pivotal decision over the next phase of his career.

Rangers’ interest is serious. A free agent with Championship and promotion experience fits the profile of a club trying to refresh its core without reckless spending.

Up front, the pursuit of Joe Gelhardt has become more complicated. The Leeds United forward reignited his reputation on loan at Hull City, scoring 14 goals and helping drive their own promotion push. Hull are now heading for the Premier League, and that single fact changes everything.

A promoted club with new television money is a far harder rival in the market. Hull’s status makes it tougher for Rangers to lure Gelhardt away, both financially and in terms of opportunity.

Celtic: Iheanacho clarity, Saracchi exit, Hatate questions

Across the city, Celtic’s summer picture is taking shape in a different way.

Kelechi Iheanacho has removed one major doubt. The Nigeria striker has confirmed he wants to stay at Celtic, and the club hold an option to extend his deal by another 12 months. For a side that has often had to rebuild its forward line window after window, that stability matters.

On the left flank of defence, though, the Marcelo Saracchi experiment is over. Talks to turn the 28-year-old’s loan into a permanent deal have stalled, and he will return to Boca Juniors for the second half of their season. Celtic must now revisit their options at left-back, an area that has required repeated attention in recent years.

Reo Hatate’s situation adds another layer of intrigue. Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie has claimed the Japan midfielder’s absence from the team stems from a fall-out with interim manager Martin O’Neill. That is one man’s assertion rather than an official line, but it feeds into a broader uncertainty over Hatate’s long-term future in Glasgow.

Devine deadline looms

Further up the pitch, Celtic are watching the clock on Alfie Devine.

Preston North End have until 1 June to trigger a £4.5m clause to make the Tottenham Hotspur loanee their player permanently. If they fail to do so, Celtic are ready to explore a move for the 21-year-old forward. It is a classic modern transfer standoff: one club on the clock, another waiting to pounce if the opportunity opens.

Old Rangers threads: Bacuna, Yengi and McBurnie

The Rangers storylines stretch beyond current players and targets.

Juninho Bacuna, now at Volendam, has looked back on his brief time at Ibrox with a hint of frustration. He believes Steven Gerrard’s departure cut short his chance to truly establish himself on loan in Glasgow. Now 28, he is focusing on helping Dick Advocaat’s Curacao in this month’s World Cup warm-up against Scotland – a neat twist, given both men’s Rangers past.

In Aberdeen’s orbit, Kusini Yengi is fighting to keep his own career in Scotland alive. The striker, 27, insists he can force his way into new manager Stephen Robinson’s plans if he returns to Pittodrie this summer. Yet the situation is messy. His loan at Cerezo Osaka ended early through injury, the J-League club do not want to pay a fee, and Aberdeen could yet cancel his contract. His future hangs in the balance.

Hull City’s Oli McBurnie, meanwhile, has drawn a line under his own Scotland disappointment. Left out of Steve Clarke’s World Cup squad, the striker says there are “no hard feelings” towards the national coach. It is a calm response from a player who knows how quickly perceptions can change with one strong season in the Premier League.

Managers on the move: Russell Martin and Robbie Keane

Even the dugouts are shifting.

Former Rangers head coach Russell Martin has been busy, travelling to Italy and Spain to speak to clubs over managerial roles. At the same time, Leicester City, now dealing with the shock of relegation to League One, also want him. His next step will say plenty about his ambitions: a rebuild job in England or a fresh start on the continent.

Robbie Keane has already made his move. Linked with the Celtic manager’s job, he has resigned as Ferencvaros head coach after finishing second behind Gyori ETO in Hungary’s top flight, declaring “the time is right for me to move on.” That line will not be lost on decision-makers in Glasgow.

Shankland flying home, Iheanacho committing, Devine’s deadline, Martin weighing offers, Keane on the market – Scottish football’s summer is already crackling. The only question now is which of these decisions will define the season to come.