Rangers line up move to sign £5m star for McInnes

With Danny Rohl set to complete a move away from Glasgow Rangers in the coming days, the Ibrox giants have already identified their next head coach.

The Scottish Premiership side have reportedly agreed a three-year contract with Derek McInnes to take the manager away from Hearts ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

After finishing second with the Jam Tarts in the Premiership this season, the 54-year-old has decided to take the next step in his career by making the move to Ibrox.

He will be instantly reunited with one of his star players from Tynecastle because the Gers have already signed Lawrence Shankland from Hearts on a permanent deal.

The Scotland international scored 16 goals in the Premiership for McInnes this season and should hit the ground running under him at Ibrox, given that they have already worked together.

Rangers showing interest in Hearts star

Shankland scored more league goals than any of Rangers’ players did for Rohl, and could be the main man up front for the new head coach next term.

The experienced Scottish marksman may not be the only player who makes the switch from Tynecastle to Ibrox ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, though, as the club are looking at one of his former teammates.

According to Football Insider, Glasgow Rangers have shown an interest in a deal to sign Hearts centre-forward Claudio Braga in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the club have already looked at the Portuguese star, and McInnes could now look to immediately reunite with another one of his star attackers from the Jam Tarts.

It adds that a fee of £5m could be enough to tempt the Premiership side into cashing in on him, but it remains to be seen if that would be exactly enough for them to accept an offer.

Football Insider also states that Celtic are interested in a move to sign the forward, and that McInnes’ appointment could give the Gers an edge in the race for his signature.

Why Lawrence Shankland would love Claudio Braga at Rangers

Whilst McInnes would surely love to reunite with his former star, Shankland would also love to play alongside Braga for a second successive season.

Hearts signed the £5m-rated talent to pair him with the Scotland international as part of a front two for McInnes last summer, and they formed a brilliant partnership at the top end of the pitch.

Whilst Shankland was the second-top scorer in the division, with 16 goals, Braga caught the eye with his contributions as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Scottish side.

They combined for 30 goals and six assists in the Premiership for Hearts, more than any two Rangers players managed combined, as an exceptional and lethal front two for McInnes.

Braga won the Premiership Player of the Season award for his impressive performances as a striker or second striker for the Jam Tarts, with 21 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in his 38 appearances.

The Portuguese star, who scored 17 goals in all competitions for Hearts, provided mobility and tenacity around Shankland, who is less mobile and more of a focal point up front, which is why they worked so well as a pairing.

Rangers currently have Youssef Chermiti as their main number nine and he is more of a focal point striker who is similar to Shankland in style, which is why the Gers need a player like Braga to benefit from their hold-up play.

That is why Shankland would love to reunite with the £5m-rated talent in the summer transfer window, because they have already proven that they can link up brilliantly at the top end of the pitch.

It is now down to the Gers to convince Hearts to part ways with the Premiership Player of the Season, which may be difficult after they have already taken Shankland and McInnes from them.

Braga is a proven performer in Scotland who could arrive to hit the ground running at Ibrox as a star player, and would be worth the hassle of going back to the Jam Tarts once again.