It's been a long time in the making, but finally, Lawrence Shankland is a Glasgow Rangers player.

Released from the club as a mere teenager, the 30-year-old has returned 18 years on, fulfilling a lifelong dream to be turning out for the Light Blues.

An emotional move could well have happened far earlier, not least last summer, with the Gers deciding not to pounce at a time when the striker was coming to the end of his Hearts contract.

Three other centre-forwards have been signed since then at Ibrox, yet there have been mixed fortunes for each of them, ensuring Danny Rohl's side have not wasted a second opportunity to bring Shankland into the fray.

Now, the task is to assemble a new-look forward line around the Scotland star, with further signings now in the works.

EFL Championship forward now wants to join Rangers this summer

Much of this summer's recruitment may also centre around outgoings, with Andreas Skov Olsen not set to sign permanently, while Oliver Antman also appears up for sale.

There remains uncertainty too as to whether Mikey Moore will be staying on for another year, or even longer, while there is also the question as to who will partner Shankland, be it as a number ten or as a second striker.

One man who could well prove a perfect addition for either role is former Rangers man, Josh Windass, with Rohl seemingly driving the club's pursuit of the 32-year-old.

The German worked with Windass previously at Sheffield Wednesday, with TEAMtalk reporting that both parties are now keen on a reunion.

The player, specifically, is said to be keen to make a return to Glasgow, eight years on from having departed for Wigan Athletic after just two seasons at the club.

Rohl is said to have been left 'frustrated' that Ibrox officials couldn't secure a deal for the Englishman in January, although the Gers boss is now hopeful of prising him from Wrexham this time around.

Why Windass could be Shankland's new Braga at Rangers

Shankland has long been a prolific figure in the Premiership, even in a struggling side, notably scoring 48 league goals in just two seasons between 2022/23 and 2023/24.

Only eight followed the year after, although he was back to his best as Hearts came so agonisingly close to the title this time around, scoring 16 times despite only starting 28 games due to injury.

Boasting the third-best goals per 90 record in the division, Shankland was still the main man for Jambos, although he did at least have help in that department, with the PFA Player of the Year, Claudio Braga, proving such a breakout star alongside him.

Together, the pair formed the league's most potent combination, with Braga netting 14 goals himself in his debut season at Tynecastle, operating off Shankland as a fluid, versatile support act.

Windass, should he return to Rangers, could hopefully strike up a similar partnership with Shankland, the Wrexham star mirroring Braga as a clinical forward who can float between the lines behind a central focal point.

Indeed, back in the EFL Championship, he has largely worked in tandem with the towering Kieffer Moore for Phil Parkinson's side, albeit while still proving influential in front of goal himself.

In all, Windass ended 2025/26 with 16 goals in all competitions, 15 of which came in the league, having scored at a rate of one every 150 minutes in England's second tier.

Perhaps more importantly for Shankland too, however, is the creativity that the Englishman offers as a second striker, having registered five assists and created ten 'big chances' this season.

For comparison, Braga recorded a rather similar record with three assists and seven 'big chances' created, while the Portuguese's average of 1.3 key passes per game was just ahead of Windass' one key pass per game.

Having seen Shankland enjoy such a fruitful campaign alongside Braga, putting another dynamic, all-action figure like Windass alongside him at Ibrox could help to keep that momentum going.

Considering Rangers' current crop are more natural number nines in the mould of Shankland himself, especially Youssef Chermiti and Bojan Miovski, there is a need to bring something different to the table.

Windass, while he has already had one crack of the whip in a Rangers shirt, could well be the perfect solution.