Ipswich Town and Sheffield United are two clubs named in the race to sign Rangers attacker Tom Lawrence, as per the Scottish Daily Mail (10/06/24, pg67).
Ipswich Town are gearing up for their first year back in the Premier League following their promotion last season.
Sheffield United meanwhile are preparing for another year in the Championship after they suffered relegation from the top flight last time out.
Both clubs are so close, yet so far apart in what they are currently trying to achieve. Ipswich Town have been on the up for several years now, whilst the Blades have struggled to find any long-term consistency between seasons.
However, they are both targeting the same man this summer.
Lawrence, 30, played 32 games for Rangers last season across all competitions. The versatile winger scored three and assisted three during the 2023/24 campaign.
The Scottish Daily Mail have said in their print version this morning (June 10th) that both Ipswich Town and Sheffield United are eyeing a move for the attacker this summer. They are both joined by Besiktas who are also monitoring the situation.
A tough one for the Blades
Tempting Lawrence to Bramall Lane may be a hard job this summer. Ipswich Town can offer Premier League football, whilst Besiktas again offers the chance to play top flight football in Turkey, as well as the chance to play in Europe and reunite with former Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Chris Wilder knows what it takes to get a club promoted to the top flight and keep them there. However, his recent track record suggest his methods may not work the same way now.
He was never going to be able to keep Sheffield United up this season, but jobs at Watford and Middlesbrough since his first spell at the Blades suggest it won’t be plain sailing.
He has won just 24 of his last 82 games as a manager and will be hoping to hit the ground running this season, but that will largely depend on them having a solid transfer window.
Takeover talk is currently halting them from doing much, and the sooner that is resolved the better with the season ticking closer.
Top flight quality?
At 30-year-old, Lawrence has never really made his mark on a top flight anywhere in his career.
The best campaigns of his career have come in the Championship and it is for that reason Sheffield United may be the best move for him.
There are big question marks over whether he’d be able to deliver for Kieran McKenna in the top tier, and the versatile attacker will surely want to play regular football.
In 269 Championship outings, dating back to 2013/14, Lawrence has amounted 50 goals and 40 assists. His time at Rangers wasn’t the best, but if he can get back to his best he could be a valuable addition for the Blades this summer.
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