Danny Rohl confirms Lawrence Shankland’s potential move to Rangers.

Former Rangers manager Danny Rohl has revealed fresh details about his role in bringing Lawrence Shankland to Ibrox, insisting the Scotland international was a player he specifically identified as a key addition before leaving for RB Salzburg.

The German coach has opened up about the conversations he held with the striker during the summer, explaining that signing Shankland formed an important part of his long-term vision for Rangers before his departure from Glasgow.

Danny Rohl has claimed he had already spoken to Lawrence Shankland about signing for Rangers before his departure for RB Salzburg (Image: Shutterstock)

Rohl left the club last month after spending only eight months in charge, accepting an opportunity to become head coach of Austrian side RB Salzburg.

Although his time at Ibrox came to an early end, the former Rangers boss has now made it clear that Shankland’s arrival was driven by his own recommendations rather than being a transfer pursued solely by the club’s recruitment team.

Direct Discussions With Lawrence Shankland

Speaking about the transfer, Rohl explained that he contacted Shankland shortly after the season had ended while the striker was enjoying his summer break.

According to the former Rangers manager, the conversation lasted around 20 to 30 minutes and focused on what he expected from the experienced forward if the move to Ibrox was completed.

Rohl said he outlined his plans for the player and discussed the standards required to succeed at Rangers.

He was encouraged by the response he received, revealing that Shankland showed a strong commitment to the project and demonstrated a clear desire to become part of the squad.

The German believes that discussion reflected how focused he remained on his role at Rangers before his eventual departure for Austria.

At that stage, he insists his entire attention was still on preparing the club for the upcoming campaign and helping build a squad capable of competing for major honours.

Shankland Identified as a Key Target

Rohl also dismissed any suggestion that Shankland’s arrival was simply a club-led recruitment decision.

Instead, he explained that he personally informed Rangers’ hierarchy that the former Hearts captain would be an excellent addition to the squad.

In his view, the striker possessed the qualities required to strengthen the team while adding valuable leadership to the dressing room.

However, Rohl also made it clear during his discussions with the player that regular starting opportunities could not be guaranteed.

At the time, Rangers already had attacking options available in the form of Youssef Chermiti, who was enjoying an excellent run of form, as well as Ryan Naderi.

Because of that competition, Rohl explained to Shankland that rotation between the forwards would likely be necessary throughout the season.

Rather than making unrealistic promises about playing time, the coach chose to be honest about the challenges that would come with joining a club where competition for places remained intense.

More Than Just Another Signing

According to Rohl, recruiting Shankland represented something much bigger than simply adding another talented footballer to the squad.

The German explained that one of his priorities was establishing a reliable core group of experienced players around whom Rangers could build for the future.

He believed the club needed leaders capable of setting standards both on and off the pitch.

Shankland, with his experience in Scottish football and his leadership qualities, perfectly matched that profile.

Rohl stressed that this philosophy was something he communicated directly to Rangers’ ownership during discussions about recruitment.

Rather than focusing exclusively on individual talent, he argued that creating a strong core within the dressing room would provide the stability necessary for long-term success.

That approach shaped many of the recommendations he made before leaving Ibrox.

Understanding the Demands of Rangers

The former manager also highlighted the importance of Shankland already understanding the pressures associated with Scottish football.

Having captained Hearts and played regularly in high-pressure environments, the striker arrived with valuable experience that many overseas signings often require time to develop.

Rohl suggested there is a significant difference between competing domestically against clubs such as St Mirren and performing on major European stages against opponents like Porto.

Players representing Rangers must quickly adapt to those elevated expectations.

In Shankland’s case, the manager believed his mentality and experience made him well suited to handling those demands.

That familiarity with the Scottish game was another major reason why Rohl viewed him as such an important signing.

Praise Following the Transfer

When Rangers officially confirmed the signing of Shankland, Rohl publicly welcomed the striker to the club and expressed his confidence in what he could bring to the squad.

He described the Scotland international as a player with proven quality, outstanding professionalism and strong leadership characteristics.

The manager also pointed to Shankland’s impressive goalscoring record in Scottish football, highlighting it as further evidence that he could make an immediate impact at Ibrox.

Beyond his ability to score goals, Rohl praised the striker’s work ethic and character, believing those attributes would benefit the entire dressing room.

He also noted that Shankland already understood the expectations that come with representing Rangers, making his transition into the squad potentially much smoother than many other signings.

World Cup Commitment Before Return

At the time of the announcement, Shankland was preparing to represent Scotland at the World Cup.

Rohl acknowledged the striker’s international responsibilities and wished him every success with the national team before looking ahead to welcoming him back to Glasgow during pre-season preparations.

The manager expressed confidence that the forward would quickly settle into life at Rangers upon his return.

Although Rohl himself would soon leave for RB Salzburg, his comments demonstrated just how highly he regarded the experienced striker.

Rohl Reflects on His Recruitment Vision

Looking back on his spell at Rangers, Rohl’s latest comments provide greater insight into the recruitment strategy he hoped to implement.

His emphasis on building a dependable core of experienced leaders suggests he viewed long-term squad development as equally important as signing technically gifted players.

Lawrence Shankland represented exactly the type of footballer he believed Rangers required—a proven performer, an experienced leader and someone capable of handling the pressure that comes with playing for one of Scotland’s biggest clubs.

Even though Rohl ultimately departed before having the opportunity to work extensively with his new signing, he remains convinced that recommending Shankland was the correct decision.

His reflections underline the importance he placed not only on talent but also on mentality, leadership and commitment when shaping the future of Rangers.

While his time at Ibrox proved relatively short, Rohl’s comments make it clear that Lawrence Shankland was a central figure in the long-term plans he had envisioned before accepting the opportunity to continue his managerial career with RB Salzburg.