Rangers Eye 15 Goal Star Sale: Are They Doing The Right Thing Now? | OneFootball

Rangers confirmed the signing of Lawrence Shankland from Hearts on a free transfer this week, and the move has immediately cast a shadow over Youssef Chermiti’s future at Ibrox. Shankland, 30 years old, agreed a two-year contract with an option of a further 12 months, with Rangers invoking a clause in his Hearts deal to secure the transfer. According to Football Insider, the club rejected a £13 million bid from Fenerbahce for Chermiti in January, but the calculus at the club appears to have shifted considerably since then.

Rangers’ attacking depth and what it means for Chermiti

Chermiti ended the season with 15 goals in the Scottish Premiership, just one fewer than Shankland, although the Portuguese forward played one extra match and contributed five assists compared to Shankland’s three. PSV have been the most recent club linked with Chermiti, and reports suggest a record-breaking fee would be required for Rangers to sanction a sale, with talks potentially starting at around £30m. In January alone, Rangers reportedly rejected multiple bids worth more than £20m for the 22-year-old, suggesting the club’s valuation sits considerably above the original £8m they paid Everton.

What must Danny Rohl decide for Rangers this summer?

Striker Chermiti ended the season strongly, and head coach Danny Rohl has a lot of belief in German striker Ryan Naderi, who arrived in January, but fitting Shankland into the front line will be intriguing, given that Chermiti also attracted admirers in Turkey during the winter. The move for Shankland follows a broader shift in Rangers’ recruitment strategy, with the club looking to increase the leadership profile in their squad and recruit from the SPFL when the right players become available.

Are they doing the right thing?

FALKIRK, SCOTLAND – MAY 16: Youssef Chermiti of Rangers applauds their fans after the William Hill Premiership match between Falkirk and Rangers at Falkirk Stadium on May 16, 2026 in Falkirk, Scotland. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)

This decision sits on a knife-edge, and Rohl faces a genuine dilemma. Selling Chermiti for a record fee makes financial sense on paper, particularly with PSV and Turkish clubs still monitoring the situation. However, Chermiti is 22, plays with real intensity, and showed in January against Celtic and later at Falkirk that his ceiling remains far from reached. Shankland is a reliable finisher and a natural leader, but he turns 31 in August and is not the long-term answer Rangers need if they want to build something sustainable.

The smarter move is keeping both players through pre-season, letting Shankland’s composure and experience lift the dressing room, and giving Chermiti the competition he clearly needs to tighten his consistency. If a club then arrive with £25m or more in August, Rangers take it. But offloading him simply because Shankland has arrived would be short-sighted planning dressed up as squad management.