Ryan Gauld has been at it again, with every passing week he looks more and more like a player that would improve Rangers squad.
For those of you that don’t know, the 25-year old’s contract with Farense runs out in the summer, no release clause, no option to extend, making him the most valuable home grown talent available when the transfer window opens and, after Vital Rangers revealed that he would “consider” moving to Ibrox, he is certainly one to keep an eye on.
The Premeira Liga isn’t the most accessible competition to watch but thanks to the Scots Abroad Podcast we have been kept informed of the Scotland Under-21 international’s performances this season, which have been nothing short of spectacular.
Ryan Gauld @ligaportugal stats:
-Games 28 (8⚽️ /6A)
-8 MOTMs (league best)
-4th highest average match rating (7.32 – various media)
-3rd in both Assists and Shots on goal
-4th in Chances Created resulting in Shot at goal
-5th on Final 3rd Recoveries of the ball🏴⚽️🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/ye1U8rVPWX
— ScotsAbroadPod (@ScotsAbroadPod) April 28, 2021
Bearing in mind that he is playing for a team threatened with relegation and in a league that features Porto, Braga, Sporting Lisbon and Benfica and yet he is still consistently near the top end of the table when it comes to individual attacking ability.
He isn’t just a luxury player either, his ball recovery stats prove that he is willing to do the dirty work against opposition defences, something that Ryan Kent is seen to be doing on a weekly basis in a Light Blue shirt.
Vital Rangers Young Player of the Year
Ianis Hagi
Nathan Patterson
James Maxwell
Stephen Kelly
To get an insight into how he plays, this short highlight reel from the Algarve derby shows exactly what he would bring to Steven Gerrard’s attack, pace, determination and no shortage of skill.
Tried to capture some of Ryan Gauld tonight, to show above the stats, how else he is creating:
– Linking up from deeper
– Gets wide and cross
– Awareness of everyone around
– Final ball 🔥Another 2 chances I cant find but he will be gutted with that shot at end 😪
🏴⚽️🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/2adVhd7bmG
— ScotsAbroadPod (@ScotsAbroadPod) April 27, 2021
Someone is going to get a bargain with Gauld, I just hope that it’s us.