The 2018-19 football season is rapidly approaching its climax and the clubs, across the globe, are setting their objectives for the upcoming summer transfer window. The football in Scotland is tipped to rediscover Celtic’s lost rivalry with Rangers. The Gers are a rejuvenated force under Steven Gerrard and are likely to throw a sterner test to champions Celtic who might undergo a crisis following the surprise exit of Brendan Rodgers.
As per reports from the Daily Star, the age-old rivals are set to battle it out for free-scoring Ayr United striking sensation Lawrance Shankland. The former Aberdeen flop has revived his career in the lower divisions and netted a whopping 60 goals since joining them back in September 2017 upon being released by the Dons.
The Scotsman has inspired The Honest Men to secure promotion to the second tier where he continued his electrifying form to be in the hunt for an incredible Premiership elevation. He has been monitored closely over the past few months. However, the prospect of his availability on a Bosman transfer has now alerted the Scottish big guns.
The 23-year-old is also drawing attention from abroad with Hull City, Sunderland and Swansea City having registered their interest in the former Scotland U21 international. But the attraction of European football would drive both Celtic and Rangers to convince Shankland and the player, too, should look to continue his growth in familiar surroundings over embracing uncertainty elsewhere.
Both the Old-Firm rivals are keen on attacking reinforcements and must be plotting to wrap up deals as soon as the season concludes. The Hoops have roped in Timo Weah and Oliver Burke on loan who would be returning to their parent clubs upon completion of the ongoing campaign.
Leigh Griffiths has taken time off from football to sort out off-field problems leaving the champions with Odsonne Edouard and Vakoun Issouf Bayo as the only available ‘number 9’ options for the forthcoming term. Bayo, meanwhile, has hardly kicked the ball since completing a £2m winter transfer from Dunajská Streda and the pressure, therefore, would be entirely on Edouard who had his issues with injuries and off-form.
Rangers, on the other hand, are highly reliant on magnificent Alfredo Morelos whom the Gers would struggle to keep hold of during the summer window. Kyle Lafferty is only decent as an alternative and can’t be banked on to score 20+ league goals a season. Jermain Defoe is an exciting addition who has grabbed five goals in nine league games since completing an 18-month loan move from AFC Bournemouth back in January. But the Englishman, in his mid-thirties, would struggle to meet the grind and demand of the Scottish calendar.
Celtic and Rangers – the Glasgow rivals are in desperate need of an out-and-out goalscorer, and the Ayr hitman is indeed someone who would galvanise them to achieve their respective season objectives.
