Guardians are ready to speak to sign the “wonderful” gem.

Glasgow Rangers are determined to take immediate action to strengthen their squad after failing to win the Scottish Premiership title for the fifth season in a row.

The Light Blues are closing in on the permanent signing of Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland on a permanent deal, after leading his side to a second-place finish in the league.

A clause in his contract with the Jam Tarts means the Gers are willing to sign him on a free transfer, just one year after penning an extension at Tynecastle.

Shankland scored 16 goals for Hearts in the Premiership against Rangers and Celtic, including a goal in the final day defeat to the Hoops when a draw was enough to win the title.

The Scot is set to compete with Youssef Chermiti, Ryan Naderi, and Bojan Miovski for a place in Danny Rohl’s squad next season.

Rangers are serious about signing Premier League talent

The signing of Shankland, who has scored 88 goals in 171 games for Hearts, will be the start of a significant summer of transfer business for the Ibrox giants.

The Scottish striker is an experienced and proven player at the top end of the pitch, but the club are also looking for a player who can benefit them in the short, medium and long term.

According to journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, Glasgow Rangers are one of the clubs interested in a deal to sign Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil in the upcoming transfer window.

The report says that the Light Blues are planning to hold talks with the English players in the coming weeks, as his contract with this Premier League team will expire at the end of June.

Rangers want to release him on a free transfer and it is believed that he may be tempted by the prospect of European football and cup competition in Glasgow.

Wolves, who are relegated from the Premier League, are one of the teams that could offer competition for his signature, so it will not be an easy deal for Rohl and his staff to get over the line this summer.

How can Dan Neil be a better player than Lawrence Shankland of Rangers

While Shankland could make a big short-term impact with his proven goals, it remains to be seen how much more the 31-year-old will be able to give the Gers.

Neil, on the other hand, turns 25 in November and is still many years away from the prime of his career, suggesting he could be a better mid-term signing for the club.

The England star’s form during his regular Championship start for Sunderland in the 2024/25 campaign also suggests he will step in as a replacement for Connor Barron in the middle of the park.

The former Sunderland captain is in a position to contribute more to Rohl’s team with goals and assists and has no more tackles and duels won than the Scotland international.

Barron has failed to score a league goal in two seasons with the Gers and Neil could provide a big threat at the other end of the pitch, which could be vital in big games when games are tight and one moment of magic can decide it.

Neil spent the second half of the season on loan at Ipswich Town and helped them secure promotion to the Premier League with eight starts and 16 appearances, conceding 5.6 times per game on average.

The 24-year-old, dubbed “amazing” by Doncaster Rovers star Luke Molyneux, has now won promotion in each of the last two seasons, with Sunderland and Ipswich, showing he is used to playing at the bottom of the division.

He should be able to go straight into the Rangers team that will fight for the title next season, as he is used to playing the best football, which may not be possible for players who are struggling.

Therefore, Neil could be a better signing than Shankland for the Gers because of the quality he can provide in the here and now, and his age advantage, which could see him become a key player for the club for a long, long, time.