The news that has taken Scottish football by storm over the past 48 hours is that Glasgow Rangers are set to sign Lawrence Shankland on a free transfer.
An extension clause in his contract with Hearts last summer means the Scotland international will leave the club for free despite signing a three-year deal.
Shankland is currently looking to sign a two-year contract at Ibrox and will reportedly undergo a medical check on Tuesday before the remaining formalities are completed.
The Jam Tarts captain has scored 16 goals in the Scottish Premiership this season and could be a great addition to Danny Rolle’s side as Scotland’s proven scorer.
Rangers are looking to build a team that can compete for the title next term, and signing Shankland could be the first step in creating the backbone Scotland needs.
Rangers could have bid accepted for Premiership star
Rangers’ previous title-winning teams have featured strong Scottish players, dating back to Allan McGregor, Ryan Jack, Kris Boyd, Barry Ferguson and Stephen Naismith.
The club’s most successful teams have featured a core of domestic talent, but the current squad, prior to Shankland’s arrival, probably does not have a Scottish player in its best XI.
But according to Football Insider, Glasgow Rangers are looking to change that by signing Dundee star Luke Graham in the summer transfer window.
After completing the deal for Shankland this week, the Light Blues are hoping to pounce on their Premiership rivals in the coming weeks and bring the central defender to Ibrox.
The paper claims it “believes” Dundee will accept a suitable offer, meaning a bid for the centre-back could be accepted if Gers build up enough funds.
However, Football Insider claims English Championship side Portsmouth are also interested in Graham, having attempted to sign him in the January transfer window, adding that Rangers would need to outbid Graham if they want to secure his signature.
How Luke Graham can become Rangers’ next Barry Ferguson
The aforementioned Ferguson, who played in the dugout last season, made 424 appearances in his two seasons at Ibrox, winning five Premiership titles and captaining the side on several occasions.
Graham did not wear the Dundee armband in 2025/26, but his performances in the Premiership show he has the qualities to be a defensive leader.
25/26 Premiership | luke graham |
|---|---|
Appearance | 36 |
the goal | 2 |
Clearance has occurred | 234 |
clean sheet | 6 |
won a duel | 200 |
Ground duel success rate | 62% |
Aerial duel success rate | 70% |
Despite being just 22 years old in his first full season in the top flight, the Scottish youngster was a dominant performer at the back of the team, dominating opposing attackers in duels on the deck and in the air.
Graham is an incredible duel winner, with more wins than any Rangers player in the league, and could serve as a role model for Roll as an impressively strong central defender, with Roll still having the potential to develop.
He could be the next Ferguson at Ibrox, having shown a consistent presence at the heart of the team, helping Gers win the title with his quality and leadership, and at the same time being at the right age to play hundreds of times for the club.
The Light Blues’ biggest challenge may be convincing their centre-back to move to Ibrox before pursuing his dream of playing in the Premier League, manager Stephen Pressley says.
But what Rangers can do is convince Graham that playing weekly at Ibrox in title contention and European competition will raise his profile and give a Premier League team a platform to show what he is capable of.
Nathan Patterson, Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey are recent examples of players who ended up moving to the Premier League after doing well at Rangers, although Bassey moved to Ajax before moving to Fulham.
It will be up to Rolle and the board to seal a deal with Dundee and convince Graham to leave. Because he could be the club’s next Ferguson, a star for Scotland and a leader who can help them get back to winning trophies.
Better than Shankland: Rangers could accept a £4m bid to sign new striker
Rangers could sign a better striker than Lawrence Shankland this summer for £4m.
