The missed Lawrence Shankland to Rangers transfer trick as rival boss tips he could've been title difference maker

David Martindale reckons Lawrence Shankland would have shot Rangers to title glory.

The Hearts and Scotland striker fired home his 29th goal of the season for the capital club in their win over Livingston on Saturday as his side edge closer to securing a third place finish. And 24 hours later in Dingwall, the Light Blues - strongly linked with a move for the Scotland marksman in January - faltered as the title race took another big twist with Celtic now in pole position.

Billy Dodds claimed at the turn of the year had either Brendan Rodgers or Philippe Clement moved to bring in the hitman, his lethal finishing would have helped make them champions. They didn't take his advice and Martindale reckons the Glasgow duo missed a trick by not shelling out for him. He reckons he would have been "unbelievable' at Rangers" - who were linked more heavily than the Hoops.

Cyriel Dessers – who has 18 goals in 48 appearances for Rangers and Nigeria – missed a hat-trick of sitters as Clement’s side lost 3-2 at second-bottom Ross County and Lions boss Martindale reckons that splashing out £4.5m on the 28-year-old in January would have secured the £60m bonanza which comes with qualifying for next season’s revamped Champions League.

Instead, Rangers are now four points behind the champions, with a game in hand against Dundee at Dens Park on Wednesday. “I wouldn’t disagree with Billy [about Shankland] but world football is changing,” claimed Martindale. You now have club owners who are based all over the world who employ directors of football who could also be based anywhere in the world.

“They then employ managers from various different countries, who all have their own ideas. Now if Billy was sporting director at Ibrox he’d probably