Could Robin Van Persie prove the difference between Rangers and Celtic winning the title next season?

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It has been a long drawn-out renaissance for Rangers. Having gone into liquidation in 2012, the club has started again under a new corporate identity and clawed its way back to the Scottish Premiership for the first time since starting from scratch in the fourth tier, with three promotions in four seasons.

Now, with the Old Firm derby back on the agenda and Gers fans dreaming of success in the top flight again, the club have been sensationally placed at 4/6 odds by SkyBet to sign Fenerbahce’s former Manchester United and Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie as they step-up their preparations for an assault on the top tier next season.

Mark Warburton laughed off initial speculation, but that may be part of a cunning ploy in the face of the media to keep any potential interest from Rangers on the low-down, if there is indeed any substance to the bookies’ reckoning. It would certainly be a coup for the Ibrox outfit, who are in need of a marquee signing after Celtic stated their intent with the signing of Liverpool’s Kolo Toure.

Van Persie would certainly fit the bill, and is a known prolific goal-scorer with 144 Premier League goals for Arsenal and Manchester United, and a further 16 in the league for Istanbul club Fenerbahce. At 32, the veteran Dutchman still has a lot to offer and could be the signing to build the buzz at Ibrox and get Gers fans excited ahead of the new season.

A seasoned veteran and a potent goal threat, there is no doubt that Van Persie would score goals in Scotland given his exploits in stronger leagues, and such a prolific forward would make facing Rangers’ attack a terrifying prospect. RVP would line up alongside Kenny Miller and Martyn Waghorn as front-line strikers in their ranks, with promising young strikers Barrie McKay and Joe Dodoo also chipping in.

Van Persie would not only add the experience to the forward line along with Miller, but also that touch of class in the final third which could really plunder goals in a league like the Scottish Premiership.

It is the presence of a prolific goal-scorer that often swings the traditional battle for the title in Scotland, with Henrik Larsson and Dado Prso two such strikers to grace the Old Firm and win titles in years gone by. Van Persie’s addition to the side may just give Rangers an edge attack wise over their East End rivals.

Celtic have a goal-scorer in their ranks in the form of Leigh Griffiths, but bar Kenny Miller, Rangers lack a proven forward at Premiership level in their squad. Van Persie has been there and done it at domestic and European level with his four clubs, and at international level with 50 goals for the Netherlands.

An attack comprising of Van Persie and Miller, along with an arsenal of young, up and coming strikers and somewhat of a goal-getter in Waghorn, could just prove decisive in a battle for the title with Celtic, should Rangers instantly challenge again.

Despite their various successes in the lower divisions, the vast majority of Rangers’ squad is unproven in the top flight. Although, last season in the Scottish Championship, they looked like a team capable of competing with the top teams north of the border.

However, after a run to the Scottish Cup final beating Celtic on the way, a heavy loss to Dundee United in 2013 and a play-off defeat in 2014/15 to Motherwell were sobering, and put pain to the thoughts of Rangers being a team ready and made to compete in the top flight once again. They have built well under Ally McCoist and have gone the extra mile under Mark Warburton, but that does not guarantee instant success.

Taking a title charge out of the equation, a player like Van Persie would be crucial simply in ensuring that this Rangers team can compete in the Premiership again. Such a player would be vital in swinging tough games with big goals, and help Rangers up the league irrespective of how much they’d trouble Celtic.

Given Warburton’s initial response, this may be sensationalist speculation, or Rangers are in fact plotting what would be their biggest transfer coup for years. With Celtic on the back of an easy four years in the top flight without their West-Glasgow rivals, Rangers certainly need one to really hit home the message for their rivals that they are; whether they like it or not, back, and are here to stay.

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