In the midst of intense speculation over a move, the former Ibrox favourite acknowledges that the Hearts captain is so good that “you would have bitten your hand off” to get him to the team in the January transfer window. And because the analyst thinks that Brighton’s on-loan star Abdallah Sima will be too costly to sign permanently, he views it as a “no-brainer” to sign the player who, in his opinion, is Scotland’s top player “by a distance” for this season at Tynecastle.
“I don’t think we’re going to be able to afford Sima,” he exclusively told Ibrox News. I’m not sure what kind of amount Brighton would be willing to pay, but there have been discussions about £10–£15 million.
Rangers, in my opinion, are not even close to that right now, but Shankland is, without a doubt, the clear winner of Scotland Player of the Year.
“Sima Not in my opinion. He’s been fantastic for us, listen. He clearly had that minor injury over the weekend, but ideally he will recover in time for the [Scottish] Cup final. No, I don’t believe we have the money for him.Rangers to recruit a striker from Hearts to Ibrox?
After a wonderful season cut short by injury, Sima has already stated that he would personally be glad to stay at Rangers; nevertheless, the final decision will be decided at the Amex.
Although Shankland, the captain of the Jambos, can scarcely say the same, he has hinted that he might be enticed by prospects outside of Tynecastle.
With a year left on his contract this summer after turning down extensions, it might not be a better time to sign a player who is coming off of 45 SPFL goals and counting over the past two seasons. As a Light Blues fan, it isn’t too hard to put two and two together on that.
With a year remaining on his contract and a second option, Sima might be able to return on loan, depending on what the Seagulls have planned for him. However, the Premier League club will undoubtedly want at least the £6 million they paid for him, if not more, to sign him to a permanent deal [The Athletic].
