Bad news for Shankland: Rangers could see £8m bid accepted to sign new striker

The summer transfer window is not even fully open yet but Rangers supporters already have plenty to talk about. After another season that ended in disappointment, attention has quickly turned toward what happens next. Everyone connected with the club knows that improvements are needed. The players know it, the manager knows it, the board knows it and perhaps more importantly the supporters know it too. Rangers are one of the biggest clubs in Scotland and expectations are always high. Finishing a season without the league title is never acceptable for many fans and that is why this summer is being viewed as one of the most important in recent years.

When the 2025/26 campaign started there was real optimism around Ibrox. Danny Rohl had brought fresh ideas and there was belief that Rangers could finally produce the consistency needed to challenge at the very top. There were moments during the season when that belief looked justified. Rangers produced some excellent performances. They picked up important victories and at times looked like a team capable of achieving something special. Unfortunately football seasons are not decided by a few good moments. They are decided by consistency across many months and that is where Rangers struggled.

As the pressure increased and the biggest games arrived, Rangers found it difficult to maintain their level. Points were dropped at crucial times and opportunities slipped away. Supporters watched with frustration as another title challenge faded. It was not a complete disaster because there were positives to take from the campaign, but it was another reminder that more quality is needed if Rangers are going to return to the top of Scottish football.

That is why the transfer market has become such an important topic. Rangers are not interested in making one or two small changes. The feeling is that a significant rebuild is needed. The club wants players who can make an immediate impact and help close the gap at the top. One of the biggest names linked with the club is Lawrence Shankland and many supporters believe his arrival could be a game changer.

Shankland has been one of the most dangerous strikers in Scottish football for several years. Defenders know exactly what he can do yet they still struggle to stop him. His movement inside the penalty area is excellent, his finishing is clinical and he always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Those qualities have helped him become one of the most consistent goalscorers in the country.

Last season he scored 20 goals in 34 appearances which was a very impressive return. It represented a strong comeback after a less productive campaign before that when he found the net only nine times. However anyone who follows Scottish football knows that one difficult season does not define Shankland. His overall record speaks for itself.

Back in the 2023/24 season he scored an incredible 31 goals. That kind of total is rare. Very few players in Scottish football have managed to produce numbers like that in recent years. It was a season that established him as one of the most feared forwards in the league and it is one of the reasons Rangers have been linked with him for so long.

Another factor that makes the potential move exciting is the fact that Shankland is a Rangers supporter. Fans always love seeing players who understand the club and appreciate what it means to wear the shirt. There is often a different level of passion and commitment when a player joins the team he supported growing up. Many Rangers supporters feel that Shankland would bring exactly that.

On paper it looks like a perfect signing. Rangers get one of the best strikers in Scotland and Shankland gets the opportunity to represent the club he loves. Everyone wins. Yet football transfers are rarely that simple and a new twist has now emerged that could make things very interesting.

Reports have suggested that Rangers are also interested in signing Leeds United striker Joel Piroe. If that deal happens it could completely change the situation in attack.

Piroe is a player who has built a strong reputation over the last few years. Although his recent experience in the Premier League was disappointing, many people still consider him a top quality striker. Sometimes players struggle when moving up to a higher level. Sometimes the style of football does not suit them. Sometimes confidence disappears. It happens to many talented players and it does not mean they suddenly lose their ability.

Looking at Piroe’s record before his Premier League season tells a very different story. He was one of the most consistent goalscorers in the Championship. Year after year he delivered goals and important performances. Those numbers are impossible to ignore.

In the 2021/22 season he scored 24 goals. In the following season he scored 19. Then came another campaign where he found the net 15 times. After that he scored 19 goals again during a promotion winning season. Those are excellent numbers and they demonstrate that he knows exactly where the goal is.

His Premier League campaign did not go according to plan. Scoring once in 21 appearances was disappointing and there is no point pretending otherwise. But football clubs do not sign players based on one difficult season. They look at the bigger picture and the bigger picture suggests that Piroe remains a dangerous striker.

That is why Rangers are reportedly interested. They see a player who has already proven himself over several years. They see someone who could thrive in Scottish football. They see a striker capable of scoring goals on a regular basis.

Of course there is a major obstacle. Leeds United are not expected to let him leave cheaply. Reports suggest that the English club want between £8 million and £10 million for the striker. That is a significant amount of money by Scottish standards and it would represent a major investment from Rangers.

Many supporters will wonder whether it makes sense to spend that kind of money on another striker after signing Shankland. It is a fair question. Rangers have other areas of the squad that also need strengthening. Defence requires attention. Midfield could certainly be improved. Spending such a large amount on one position might seem risky.

However there is another way of looking at the situation.

The teams that win titles usually have strength in depth. They do not rely on one player. They have competition for places all over the pitch. Injuries happen. Suspensions happen. Loss of form happens. Successful clubs prepare for those situations by having quality alternatives ready to step in.

If Rangers had both Shankland and Piroe available they would suddenly possess one of the strongest attacking departments in Scotland. Defenders would have nightmares trying to deal with them. Opposing managers would be forced to come up with special plans to stop them.

The possibility of both players competing for a starting place is fascinating. Some supporters believe they could even play together. Piroe has experience of operating in different attacking systems and there have been occasions when he has played as part of a front two.

The challenge is that Danny Rohl does not usually favour that type of setup. His preferred style often relies on a single central striker supported by attacking midfielders and wide players. If he sticks with that approach then one of Shankland or Piroe would likely find themselves on the bench.

That is why some people view the transfer rumours as bad news for Shankland. After all no player wants to join a new club only to discover that another expensive striker is arriving at the same time. Every footballer wants to play regularly and every striker wants to be the main man.

Yet competition is part of football. The biggest clubs in the world have multiple top class players competing for the same position. That competition often brings out the best in everyone. Players train harder. They focus more. They know they cannot afford to relax because someone else is waiting for an opportunity.

If Rangers are serious about winning trophies they need that mentality throughout the squad. They need players pushing each other every single day. They need standards to remain high whether they are playing against title rivals or teams at the bottom of the table.

The club’s ambitions this summer are not limited to attack. Reports have linked Rangers with several other players as they attempt to strengthen different areas of the team. Luke Graham is one name that has attracted attention. The Dundee defender is highly regarded and is seen as one of the brightest young defensive talents in Scotland.

There have also been links with midfielders as Rangers search for additional quality in the centre of the pitch. Dan Neil has been mentioned as a possible target and many supporters would welcome a move for the Sunderland captain. His leadership qualities and technical ability could make him an important addition.

All of these links suggest one thing. Rangers are not planning a quiet summer. They want to improve and they want to improve significantly. The disappointment of last season has created a determination to come back stronger.

Supporters will be hoping that the club can complete deals quickly. The sooner new players arrive the sooner they can settle into the squad and prepare for the challenges ahead. Building chemistry takes time and Rangers cannot afford a slow start next season.

For now the focus remains on Shankland and Piroe. One appears close to joining while the other remains a target. Whether Rangers can actually afford a deal for the Leeds striker remains to be seen. Negotiations would not be easy and the transfer fee could prove difficult to meet.

But if Rangers somehow manage to secure both players it would send a powerful message to the rest of Scottish football. It would show ambition. It would show determination. Most importantly it would show that the club is willing to do whatever it takes to bring success back to Ibrox.

The coming weeks will reveal whether those ambitions become reality. Until then Rangers supporters can only watch and wait as another fascinating transfer story continues to develop. One thing is certain. This summer could shape the future of the club for years to come and every decision made between now and the start of next season will carry enormous importance. If Rangers get it right they could finally have the firepower needed to challenge for the Premiership title once again and perhaps even take a major step toward returning to the top of Scottish football.