The World Cup hasn’t even began but, however Rangers have began the summer season switch window with a bang.
In actual fact, Ibrox wanted to do this. The best way the home season ended was atrocious they usually deserted their bid to win the Premiership within the remaining weeks.
The addition of Lawrence Shankland is due to this fact an enormous enhance. Signing arguably their greatest participant is a large coup as he is among the major causes behind Hearts’ unprecedented title win.
Nevertheless, I by no means actually had any doubts about it. The striker is a Gers fan and has been linked with a commerce from Edinburgh to Glasgow for years.
So who might be subsequent after Shankland? Effectively, Dan Neal’s identify continues to be within the public eye.
Rangers may signal one other midfielder to hitch Neil
Shankland’s transfer to Ibrox was determined earlier than the phrase Rangers was even talked about. Inside a couple of hours, every part felt sorted and in place.
As soon as the striker is introduced in, cleansing up the midfield will stay a precedence, no matter whether or not Nico Raskin decides to go away Danny Rohr’s facet.
Neil might arrive for the second time this summer season. Reviews final week steered that the Gers had been in talks to signal the participant from Sunderland and had been certainly near finalizing a deal. There hasn’t been a lot information relating to his future switch to this point this week.
Greatest contract in Rangers historical past
The Gers now have a brand new proprietor within the 49ers Enterprise.
The 24-year-old is just not the one key participant the Gentle Blues are attracting consideration to. In actual fact, in keeping with a evaluation from Rangers’ Chris Jack, Elliott Watt can be prepared for a transfer.
Jack identified that the Motherwell star was one of many names “into account” however no method had but been made by the Premiership facet.
So which of those two is best to accumulate?
Why Watt is a greater contract than Neal
On paper, signing a participant from a longtime Premier League facet looks as if a wise transfer. However the fact is, Neil hasn’t truly performed a lot soccer within the final 12 months.
Having beforehand captained Sunderland, he ought to have proven good management abilities, however the midfielder solely performed 13 minutes within the league after being promoted to England’s prime flight. He made 22 appearances for the matchday squad, however was used as a sub in simply three.
A mortgage transfer to Ipswich in January promised additional time for Neil, who achieved promotion with the Tractor Boys, however was by no means a daily once more, beginning eight of the 18 video games he performed.
Supporters have raised additional issues about beforehand signed gamers with Championship expertise in recent times. Todd Cantwell and Joe Rothwell will not be extremely rated at Ibrox.
It feels lazy to recommend that Neil will observe within the footsteps of each of them, however gamers with a confirmed observe document within the Premiership are necessary and Watt is certainly one of them.
It is clear that Rangers want to enhance with regards to reinforcements and attracting the midfielder to Ibrox could be a fantastic step in the proper path.
Hailed as “the perfect midfielder within the league” by analyst and author Kai Watson, the numbers actually help that declare.
Elliott Watt – 2025/26 SPFL Statistics | |
|---|---|
Statistics (* = per match) | watt |
recreation | 34 |
the objective | 6 |
help | 3 |
A giant alternative has arisen | 5 |
Key move* | 1.1 |
Move accuracy* | 86% |
contact* | 97.1 |
Tackles and interceptions* | 3.3 |
Win a duel* | 5.0 |
Lack of possession* | 15.8 occasions |
He isn’t the kind to win the ball tenaciously, however moderately retains issues shifting in the midst of the park admirably. In that regard, he might be a fantastic substitute for Ruskin if he leaves Scotland this summer season.
Within the 2025/26 season, he averaged a large 97.1 touches per recreation, however no midfielder in all the league made extra correct passes (2,347 touches). The subsequent greatest scorer was Callum McGregor with 2,306 factors. No participant within the Premiership completes greater than 6.6 lengthy balls per recreation, whereas Watt additionally ranks excessive for key passes per recreation. Solely 14 midfielders achieved higher outcomes.
Moreover, common match rankings aren’t every part, however his ranking of seven.69 by Sofascore was the best of any participant in Scotland’s prime flight.
This participant is on the prime of his recreation. Though he was not a reserve like Neil, he has additionally starred within the Premiership.
Watt, 26, is presently on the peak of his profession and feels it’s the excellent time to make a transfer to Scotland’s massive boys. Rangers ought to be that membership.
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