Philippe Clement Lawrence Shankland Rangers badgePhilippe Clement wanted Lawrence Shankland at Rangers.
Philippe Clement sack decision at Rangers to directly impact Lawrence Shankland deal
Rangers will only be able to afford a January transfer swoop for Lawrence Shankland if they keep faith in Philippe Clement this season.
Amid overall losses of over £17million in the latest accounting period at Ibrox, the Gers will be strapped for cash if they choose to pursue the soon-to-be out-of-contract Shankland from Hearts in January [Stephen McGinn, 12 November].
Clement is under pressure to get more out of his side – particularly in the final third – but despite facing calls for the sack, doing so would set the Light Blues back roughly £2m in compensation fees [David Edgar, 31 October].
As a result, deposing of Clement before the January transfer window opens would slam shut the club’s opportunity to sign Shankland, who would likely cost around that same sum, and that leaves the higher-ups at Ibrox with a decision to make.
Rangers have to prioritise rebuild over reset in January
If their decision is split between sacking Clement or strengthening the squad once January rolls around, all signs point towards the current Ibrox boardroom sticking by the manager and pursuing new targets.
Clement was given almost total authority over the rebuilding of his squad during the summer window, and while that’s yet to bear fruit in terms of a league title challenge, the overhaul is far from complete [Stevie Clifford, 8 October].
Cyriel Dessers has been Rangers’ leading striker almost by default so far this season [Credit: Imago]
However, their lengthy pursuit of Shankland – which ultimately came to nothing with no bids submitted to Hearts – may have been a bullet dodged, with the 29-year-old netting just once so far this season.
Cyriel Dessers has been Clement’s automatic go-to up front this season amid a lack of readily-available alternatives, but the Nigerian does at least have 10 goals in 20 matches across all competitions.
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Looking elsewhere for a new striker – which is still needed in the eyes of most – could be tricky given the Gers’ current standing in the transfer market, but if Clement is sacked and compensation paid, buying anyone of note in the upcoming window will be a non-starter.
In other Rangers news, Clement isn’t helping his own cause with his comments after the Light Blues’ win over Hearts this week.
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