Rangers diehard ridiculed over Celtic title claim as Lawrence Shankland transfer talk splits Hotline

Former Rangers hero Alan Hutton reckons his old club could do with a Scottish core – with Lawrence Shankland a decent start. But some Hotline callers can see an issue with the Tartan signing policy – our homegrown talents don’t come cheap.

Robert Livingston, Palm Beach, said: “It's hard to argue with Hutton's view that Rangers need a top class No.9 for 30 plus goals a season. Flops Lammers, Dessers, Danilo, throw in Roofe, all four together couldn't do it. Shankland’s the man who could make that happen, he's here and in top form, but it's plainly obvious they never wanted him with no offer made. It seems the board and Philippe Clement all along prefer to look at foreign players like Michy Batshuayi but home grown talent has always served Rangers well.

Alan Flett emailed: “It’s all very well for Alan Hutton to say that Rangers should buy Scottish players but it’s not as easy as that. When the smaller clubs know that Rangers want their players they ask for silly money. In any case, how many of the current batch would Rangers want? I’d take John McGinn and Billy Gilmour but that’s about it and we couldn’t afford them anyway.”

On Shanks, Neil Renton, Leith, said: “I take it resident Jambo Davy Cook has been at the cooking wine with his claims Hearts shouldn’t sell Shankland to a rival. If I was them I’d take whatever is offered, if not he’ll be away at the end of his contract for free.”

Celtic legend Scott Brown managed to wind up Gers fans this week as well. Jamie Thompson, Yoker, said: “Brown said Rangers players are too mouthy.

"I had to laugh – Rangers players and fans not interested in an ex-manager of rubbish Fleetwood club. Brown is delusional if he thinks any club would want him as their manager, he is a failure