Throughout the January transfer window, Glasgow Rangers were busy, and on deadline day, they made their last signing—bringing in Oscar Cortes on loan from RC Lens.

The young winger had already been joined on loan by Mohammed Diomande and Fabio Silva as Philippe Clement tried to bolster his team.
The latter attracted attention as the Light Blues easily defeated Livingston 3-0 at Ibrox on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership.

They did, however, add at the time that the Scotland international would be priced out of the Gers’ January swoop as they were targeting a minimum fee of £3 million for their star striker.

It said that in order to pay for the prolific marksman, the Ibrox giants would have to raise money through player sales, which is why all three of their signings—Cortes, Silva, and Diomande—arrived on loan deals from their respective clubs at first. According to Football Insider, Rangers are ‘eyeing’ a summer raid for the Scotland international in addition to a permanent deal for Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Abdallah Sima in an attempt to finally acquire a goal scorer.

The report claims that their chances of landing deals for both players would be greatly increased if they qualified for the Champions League the following season. If the Green Bay Packers defeat Celtic in the title game this season, winning the Premiership would guarantee them automatic qualification.

Shankland has not yet signed a contract extension

They also say that Shankland has not yet signed a contract extension with the Jam Tarts, despite Hearts making two “record-breaking” offers to extend his current deal, which is set to expire at the end of the next term. As a result, his future is uncertain, and Rangers may decide to make a move for the £3 million-rated striker in the summer, when his contract will expire in just 12 months.

It would be Hearts’ final chance to secure payment for his services prior to his potential departure on a free agent in 2025, which the Gers could exploit by moving to add him to their roster in time for the 2024–2025 season.

By bringing in Shankland, a major upgrade over Dessers, in the summer, Clement could now exact revenge on the team for their deadline-day gaffe of not being able to sign a striker to strengthen their lineup.

This season’s struggles for Cyriel Dessers

Prior to the 2023–24 season, the Nigerian center forward was acquired from Cremonese, an Italian team, and has had a mixed season in front of goal.

After a relatively lackluster season with his former club, which saw them relegated from the Serie A, he arrived at Ibrox. In 26 league appearances, the marksman managed just six goals from 7.15 xG.

The veteran striker has wasted the chances that have come his way for Rangers, and his poor play in the final third in Italy has carried over to Scotland.

Dessers has made 20 Premiership appearances for the Scottish powerhouses this season, scoring eight goals and missing an incredible thirteen “big chances.”

With a 29% ground duel success rate this season, the 29-year-old attacker has struggled greatly off the bench. He wasted a good opening and left much to be desired with his passing and lack of strength.

The numbers demonstrating why Shankland would significantly outperform Dessers

By signing Shankland in the summer, Rangers could get a significant upgrade over Dessers and exact revenge on themselves for their deadline-day gaffe of failing to add a fantastic marksman to the team.

Since the beginning of the previous season, he has been a deadly presence in front of goals for Hearts as a proven Premiership performer. The £3 million-rated player is adept at finding the back of the net

This indicates that in 61 Premiership games for Hearts since the beginning of the previous campaign, Shankland has scored 40 goals and missed 23 “big chances.”

That is an incredible comeback in front of goal over a long stretch of time, demonstrating his ability to be clinical when opportunities present themselves. This season, Dessers has missed five more big chances than he has scored goals.

With more goals and fewer big-time chances lost, the Scotland international would therefore be a fantastic addition to Rangers and make up for their deadline-day mistake of not signing a striker. He is also a proven Premiership upgrade over the Nigerian forward.

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