The signing of Lawrence Shankland must be just the first of several major additions to Danny Röhl’s Rangers squad during the summer transfer window.
The Light Blues finished ten points behind Celtic in the title race at the end of the season and lost four of their five post‑split matches, highlighting just how much the squad needs improving ahead of next term.
One player linked with a move to join Shankland at Ibrox is Sunderland central midfielder Dan Neil, who spent the second half of this season on loan at Ipswich Town in the English Championship. It was recently reported that the Scottish giants are in ongoing talks to sign the English talent on a free transfer, as his contract at the Stadium of Light is due to expire at the end of the month.
What Dan Neil can bring to Rangers
Supporters could be forgiven for comparing this potential deal to last summer’s signing of Joe Rothwell, who arrived from Bournemouth on a permanent deal after two successive Championship promotions.
However, the experienced midfielder lacked mobility and did not appear suited to the physical demands of Scottish football, which is why Röhl cut ties with him at the first opportunity in January.
Neil, 24, is a combative and mobile central midfielder who would be able to handle the pace and physicality of the Premiership. Unlike Rothwell, he could thrive as an effective box‑to‑box midfielder for the German head coach.
His statistics in the Championship this season show he offers plenty out of possession, using his ability to cover ground, make tackles, and win duels.
At 24, the English star would also arrive as a bargain on a free transfer. Transfermarkt values him at £3.9 million, and he has plenty of time to increase that value, meaning Rangers could eventually make a profit on him. In fact, there is already a player in the current Rangers squad who has set the perfect example for Neil to follow—one who is now worth millions more than the former Sunderland captain.
Worth more than Dan Neil: Rangers have hit gold on a star
While Neil could join on a free transfer, his current market value of £3.9 million is exactly the kind of figure he will hope to increase if he moves to Ibrox. Back in January 2023, Rangers swooped to sign Belgian central midfielder Nicolas Raskin from Standard Liège for a bargain fee of just £1.5 million—a similar profile of move to the one Neil could make this summer.
Since joining the club, the 25‑year‑old has racked up 13 goals and 23 assists in 145 appearances for the Light Blues across all competitions, winning the League Cup in the 2023/24 campaign. His market value has soared during his time at Ibrox and currently stands at £10.3 million heading into the summer window—an increase of 587% from the £1.5 million fee Rangers paid Standard Liège just over three years ago.
While Transfermarkt values don’t definitively set a player’s price tag, they do illustrate Raskin’s growth during his time at the club and show that a clear pathway exists for Neil, who currently holds a much lower valuation. The fact that Raskin’s market value dipped between 2023 and 2024 also serves as a reminder that fans need patience with young players. They can go through difficult spells and learn from those experiences to become better—exactly as Raskin has done.
Rangers are reportedly bracing for interest in the Belgium international, whom they have truly hit the jackpot with at Ibrox. Neil could ultimately arrive as his replacement in the middle of the park. Raskin is the perfect example for the Sunderland midfielder to follow: join for a modest fee, emerge as a star at Ibrox, and increase your value over the years by delivering on the pitch.
