Rangers transfer business involving the signing of Tom Lawrence was finalised very quickly, to the disappointment of English Championship clubs, particularly Sheffield United.
The Blades were close, or so it appeared, to landing the former Derby man until another option was presented to the 28-year old.
That came in the form of Rangers overall offer to lure the Welshman, as emphatically described below by Nathan Hemmingham as the “intervention”.
Tom Lawrence has informed United he will not be accepting their offer – several Champ clubs had offered him a contract and he had chosen United over those – he was impressed after talks with PH, but Rangers' intervention changed that#sufc #twitterblades https://t.co/mPlUfRbr6K
— Nathan Hemmingham (@NathanH79) July 7, 2022
That perspective was reinforced by Sheffield United head coach, Paul Heckingbottom, who essentially stated that the deal from Ibrox was just too good for Lawrence to turn down:
“A team who got to the Europa Cup final last year, things like that, it’s going to be a big pull. Obviously, big pay is a big pull, different football, it’s one of those things.”
“You can’t get them all. Would I have liked him, yeah, but we didn’t manage to get him. If Rangers hadn’t have come in and blown everyone out of the water I would have backed us to get him.”
Deliver
With Heckingbottom and the Blades left disappointed, the player has now obviously agreed terms at Ibrox with the pursuit of silverware and success within reach.
A substantial wage will be included in the terms that Tom Lawrence has agreed but regardless of money he will need to deliver on the pitch, under the usual demands and expectation that is part of life at Ibrox.
Domestically and in Europe, there is a lot to play for and enjoy in the famous blue shirt but the former Derby man can’t be complacent as other players to make the move from England have done in the past. His strong form on the pitch last season provides the evidence that he has the quality to make an impact in Glasgow. His attacking threat and eye for goal will be an asset to Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team, to add much needed numbers up front whilst easing the burden on Alfredo Morelos.
Alongside Antonio Colak and Rabbi Matondo, Lawrence is part of an enhanced Rangers attack who now need to make an intervention of their own.