Danny Rohl has opened up on his discussions with Lawrence Shankland about a transfer move to Rangers before his exit for RB Salzburg.
The German boss pushed for a deal to sign the former Hearts captain this summer before departing the club.
Rohl left Ibrox last month to move to the Austrian club after just eight months in charge at Rangers.
Now, though, Rohl has stated he led the charge to sign Shankland as he told club chiefs Rangers needed a core group of players to build upon, instead of any suggestion the striker was a club-led signing.
Speaking to The Daily Record, Rohl said: “It’s interesting because after the season, I spoke with Shankland for 20 or 30 minutes while he was on holiday.
“I told him what I expected, and he was really strongly committed. This proves that at that moment, I was still prepared and focused on what I had to do at Rangers."
He added: “With Shankland, I told them he’d be a good option for us, it was clear.
"But I told Lawrence that with Youssef Chermiti on fire and Ryan Naderi there, it might mean some rotation.
“Shankland knows what going to St Mirren means. But going to Porto, it’s different. That’s important. It wasn’t just about signing talent, it was about signing a core. I told the ownership, Rangers needed a core."
When Shankland was announced, just a couple of weeks before Rohl's departure, the coach commented: "We are delighted to have Lawrence join Rangers. He is a player with proven quality, leadership and work ethic, and his goalscoring record in Scotland speaks for itself.
"He understands the demands and expectations that come with playing for Rangers, and we believe his character and experience will be a huge asset for the group. I wish him well at the World Cup this summer, and look forward to welcoming him back to Glasgow during pre-season."
