Rangers emerge as favourites for Scottish ace amid Shankland comparison

Rangers moved quickly to strengthen their attack earlier this month by completing the signing of striker Lawrence Shankland, handing Danny Röhl another proven option in the final third.

The arrival of the Scotland international gives the Rangers boss plenty to think about heading into next season. With Danilo, Bojan Miovski, Youssef Chermiti, Ryan Naderi and now Shankland all competing for places, selecting the right attacking combination could become one of Röhl’s biggest decisions.

Throughout the 2025/26 campaign, Rangers generally operated with a lone striker, though there were occasions when Röhl experimented with a two-man attack. Shankland’s return of 16 Scottish Premiership goals for Hearts – more than any current Rangers player managed in the league – makes him a strong candidate to lead the line.

Should Röhl opt for two forwards, Shankland could also form a dangerous partnership with Chermiti, with the pair combining for 31 league goals this season.

While the addition of Shankland looks like a major boost, Rangers may yet pull off an even more important piece of business from within the Premiership.

According to reports, the Ibrox side are among the frontrunners to sign Dundee defender Luke Graham this summer, with Norwich City also monitoring the highly-rated centre-back.

The left-footed defender has impressed in Scotland and is understood to be valued at over £1.5 million, although Norwich have not yet made a formal move. Rangers, meanwhile, are said to be firmly in the mix as they search for defensive reinforcements.

Graham, 22, could prove to be a particularly smart signing for Rangers given the issues they faced at the back last season. Although Röhl’s side finished as the Premiership’s top scorers with 76 goals, defensive inconsistency proved costly, with Rangers conceding 43 times — more than Celtic, Hearts and Motherwell.

For that reason, strengthening the defence may be just as important, if not more important, than adding attacking firepower.

Graham’s performances suggest he could offer an upgrade in key defensive areas, bringing physicality, strong duel success and balance as a natural left-footed centre-back. His arrival could also improve Rangers’ build-up play by allowing defensive partners to operate on their preferred side.

With Rangers currently lacking natural left-footed options in central defence, Graham may offer a long-term solution and potentially become one of the smartest signings of the summer if a deal can be completed.