Rangers may have their late £5m bid accepted to sign a player who is an upgrade on Lawrence Shankland.

Rangers still have a limited amount of time to strengthen Derek McInnes’ squad before the summer transfer window closes on Thursday evening.

The Ibrox side remain interested in bringing another centre-forward to the club following the unfortunate injury suffered by Youssef Chermiti earlier this month. The striker sustained an ACL injury and is expected to be unavailable for the majority, and potentially all, of the 2026/27 season.

That setback has left Rangers needing another quality option in attack, particularly given the underwhelming starts made by both Ryan Naderi and Lawrence Shankland.

Rangers Need Another Centre-Forward

The need for another striker has become increasingly apparent during the opening weeks of the Scottish Premiership campaign.

Shankland was trusted to lead the line from the start against Aberdeen and ultimately scored the decisive goal, converting a penalty to secure all three points for McInnes’ side.

However, despite finding the net, the Scotland international’s overall contribution was far from convincing.

The goal came after Djeidi Gassama was brought down inside the penalty area, allowing Shankland to step up and send the spot-kick into the top corner.

While the finish was excellent, his performance during open play raised concerns about whether he currently has the physical sharpness required to lead Rangers’ attack.

Shankland Struggles Against Aberdeen

Shankland appeared to lack the pace and intensity necessary to consistently trouble Aberdeen’s central defenders.

He struggled to get involved in the game and failed to provide Rangers with the kind of physical outlet they need from their main striker.

One particular moment summed up his difficulties.

Min-su Kim’s effort was heading towards the goal line, but Shankland was unable to reach the ball before an Aberdeen defender intervened.

Had the Rangers forward been quicker to react, he could have potentially tapped the ball into an unguarded net.

His statistics from the match also underline the problems.

Shankland played 86 minutes and managed three shots, with one resulting in his penalty goal.

However, he produced no key passes and did not create a big chance.

His performance in physical contests was especially disappointing.

The 31-year-old failed to win any of his five ground duels and managed only one victory from three aerial challenges.

He was also responsible for three fouls.

Those numbers suggest that Shankland is currently struggling to compete with the strength and intensity required of a Rangers centre-forward.

Lenny Joseph Emerges as a Target

According to Foot Mercato, Rangers are considering a late move for Ferencvaros striker Lenny Joseph.

The report claims that the club’s 49ers ownership group hold the Haiti international in high regard and are weighing up the possibility of bringing him to Ibrox before Thursday’s deadline.

However, Ferencvaros reportedly have no desire to sell their leading striker cheaply.

The Hungarian club are said to value Joseph at a minimum of £5 million.

Consequently, Rangers would have to make a sizeable financial commitment if they are serious about completing the transfer.

Given the circumstances surrounding Chermiti’s injury and the current form of the other forwards, though, such an investment could be justified.

Joseph Has the Qualities Rangers Need

Joseph could provide McInnes with a completely different attacking profile.

The 25-year-old has already represented Haiti at international level, making three appearances at the World Cup.

Although he has yet to prove himself consistently in one of Europe’s major domestic leagues, his performances for Ferencvaros in European competition have offered plenty of encouragement.

During the 2025/26 Europa League campaign, Joseph demonstrated that he can contribute against quality opposition.

He made 12 appearances in the competition, including four starts, and recorded two goals and two assists.

Those numbers show that he can influence matches in the final third, but it was his all-round physical contribution that made his performances particularly noteworthy.

Impressive European Numbers

Joseph’s underlying statistics from the Europa League provide further evidence of his potential.

He scored twice, placing him within the top 37 per cent of strikers in the competition.

His expected assists figure of 1.31 ranked him in the top four per cent, while his two assists placed him within the top eight per cent.

The Haitian forward also completed ten successful dribbles, ranking inside the top eight per cent among strikers.

His ability to compete physically was perhaps even more impressive.

Joseph won 50 duels during the competition, putting him in the top six per cent of forwards.

He also won 23 aerial duels, placing him within the top nine per cent.

His aerial duel success rate was 51.1 per cent, which ranked him in the top 22 per cent.

These figures suggest that Joseph could give Rangers greater mobility and physical strength in attack.

Joseph Could Exploit Shankland’s Weaknesses

The comparison with Shankland is particularly interesting.

During the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership season, Shankland lost 82 per cent of his ground duels and 77 per cent of his aerial contests.

He has also completed only one dribble from three attempts in the opening stages of the current campaign.

Those figures point towards a striker who is currently struggling to offer enough movement and physical presence.

His display against Aberdeen only strengthened that concern.

Joseph, on the other hand, has demonstrated that he is comfortable taking opponents on, competing in physical battles and using his movement to create problems for defenders.

That could make him a more effective option for Rangers when facing teams that defend aggressively or attempt to match them physically.

Strong Goal and Assist Record

Joseph’s overall production since the beginning of last season makes the potential move even more appealing.

The Haiti international has scored 20 goals and registered ten assists across all competitions during that period.

His current European campaign has also started positively.

Joseph has already scored four goals in eight Europa League qualifying appearances this season.

That record indicates that he can provide a consistent attacking threat while also contributing creatively.

His involvement in Haiti’s opening goal against Morocco at the World Cup is another example of his ability to make an impact on the international stage.

A Different Option for McInnes

The biggest appeal of Joseph may be the variety he could give Rangers in attack.

McInnes would have a forward capable of using his pace and strength to stretch opposition defences.

Joseph could also operate effectively in the channels, move away from central defenders and create space for teammates.

His physical qualities would allow him to hold the ball up when Rangers need an outlet, while his mobility could help the team attack spaces behind defensive lines.

That combination would give McInnes another tactical option and reduce the pressure on Shankland and Naderi.

Rangers Should Consider the £5m Investment

Paying £5 million for Joseph would represent a considerable outlay, particularly because the striker does not yet have extensive experience in one of Europe’s biggest domestic leagues.

Nevertheless, Rangers have an obvious need for another centre-forward.

Chermiti’s ACL injury has removed one option, while Shankland’s early-season performances have not provided enough confidence that he can consistently lead the attack.

Joseph’s record suggests he could address several of those weaknesses.

His physicality, pace, dribbling ability and willingness to compete could make him an ideal fit for Scottish football.

More importantly, he has demonstrated that he can contribute goals and assists while playing at European level.

Joseph Could Be an Ideal Rangers Signing

If Ferencvaros remain firm on their £5 million valuation, Rangers will have an important decision to make before Thursday’s deadline.

However, the 49ers should seriously consider paying the required fee.

Joseph could immediately provide McInnes with the mobile and powerful attacking presence that has been missing from some of Rangers’ early performances.

He could hold off defenders, run into channels, stretch defensive lines and compete effectively in the air.

While Shankland remains capable of scoring important goals, Rangers need more from their centre-forward position than occasional finishing.

Joseph appears capable of offering a greater all-round contribution.

For that reason, Rangers should be prepared to invest the money required to bring him to Ibrox.

With the transfer deadline rapidly approaching, securing a striker of Joseph’s profile could prove to be one of the most important decisions Rangers make this summer.