Former Rangers midfielder Lee McCulloch has outlined what he considers the “perfect scenario” for the upcoming January transfer window. McCulloch, speaking on PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show, proposed a three-way plan involving Rangers, Lawrence Shankland, and Kevin van Veen.
McCulloch dismissed the idea of Van Veen as a suitable addition to Ibrox, asserting that the Dutch striker would be a better fit for Tynecastle, home of Hearts. He shared his insights on the show, emphasizing the need for Rangers to secure Shankland and have Hearts replace him with Van Veen.
Tam McManus, on the other hand, had suggested Van Veen as a solid and affordable stop-gap solution on loan for Rangers. Despite McManus’ endorsement of the 32-year-old, McCulloch expressed reservations about him being the right fit for Ibrox. “I think he’s more suited to Hearts than he would be Rangers,” McCulloch stated during the discussion.
McManus had argued for the viability of a loan deal, stating, “He’s signed, I think, a two-year deal with Groningen, I don’t think he cost a lot of money, and he’d score goals, he’d score goals in the Premier League for Rangers.” However, McCulloch countered, emphasizing the potential psychological impact of missing chances at Ibrox compared to a less pressure-intensive environment like Motherwell.
McCulloch’s proposed perfect scenario involves Rangers acquiring Lawrence Shankland, the former Motherwell player currently with Groningen. Simultaneously, Hearts would then seek to bring in Kevin van Veen as a replacement for Shankland. McCulloch believes that this strategic move would benefit all parties involved and create an optimal outcome for the clubs in the January transfer window.