'Rubbish' - Chris Sutton says Celtic should have signed SPFL star everyone wants at Rangers

Chris Sutton can’t believe Celtic didn’t sign Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland, who everyone wanted at Rangers last summer.

The Old Firm clubs had an opportunity to get a deal over the line for the Scotland international once his contract at the Jam Tarts expired.

Derek McInnes ended up convincing the 30-year-old to stay at Tynecastle Park, but Sutton believes he should have been at Parkhead this season.

The Englishman rubbished claims of the centre-forward being a Gers fan and would have liked to see the Hoops secure his signature.

There will certainly be regret among the Ibrox hierarchy at missing out on Shankland when they had the opportunity, and it will be interesting to see whether they make another attempt in the coming months.

Rangers show arrogance after Lawrence Shankland snub

Writing in the Daily Record on 9 May, Sutton said, “Everyone keeps saying he should have been at Ibrox last summer. Forget that — he should have been at Celtic Park. Ignore all the rubbish about him being a Rangers fan. Celtic needed a reliable striker last summer and one of the best in the business was out of contract on their own doorstep.”

Shankland was being heavily linked to Ibrox last summer, but it feels like Kevin Thelwell didn’t fancy him.

The former Everton chief signed 12 players at the Gers during his short stint as sporting director, and it’s safe to say that he made the squad worse than it was in the 2024-25 season.

Over the last few years, the Light Blues have been arrogant in their pursuit of players who have proven themselves in the Scottish top flight, instead looking for reinforcements in other markets.

The Govan side’s reluctance to sign the Hearts striker has come back to haunt them, with McInnes now on course to win the William Hill Premiership title with him as the talisman.

Ibrox hierarchy can’t repeat Lawrence Shankland error with Elliot Watt

Rangers have their eyes on Motherwell midfielder Elliot Watt ahead of the upcoming transfer window and they should make him a priority.

Danny Rohl clearly need more quality in the middle of the park after what’s been seen in the recent matches against Hearts and the Steelmen.

Watt will have one year remaining on his contract at Motherwell going into next season and the Light Blues should push ahead with a move for him.

The Govan side have a solution for their engine room at their doorstep in the 26-year-old and they certainly don’t need to go into foreign markets to look for signings.

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