Lawrence Shankland is ‘star attraction’ for transfer interest at Rangers v Hearts
Lawrence Shankland is the “star attraction” ahead of the January transfer window as Rangers travel to Hearts on Wednesday 6 December, according to the Scottish Daily Mail.
The newspaper reported in its print edition [December 6, pg 71] that goalscorers will be in demand next month, with plenty of eyes on the Scotsman tonight.
Wednesday’s game will only serve as a spotlight for the in-form striking talent, giving Philippe Clement a front-row seat to a potential future signing.
“There will be plenty of eyes on the Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland tonight as he looks to continue his fine form when Rangers come calling to Tynecastle,” George Grant wrote.
“Goalscorers are always in demand and the Player of the Month for November, after netting seven in his last nine games for both club and country, is certainly attracting attention ahead of next month’s transfer window.”
In search of an out-and-out striking sensation
Finding a star man to lead the line is hardly a simple task, which is why Rangers have struggled with discovering a permanent solution in recent seasons.
Similar to last season, James Tavernier tops the scoring list with 12 goals in all competitions, closely followed by a loan player. Previously, it was Antonio Colak, who spent just a single season at Ibrox, with Tavernier topping the goal charts.
A team that plays each season in Europe and competes for the Scottish Premiership should never have their right-back as their top scorer, no matter how good he is or how many penalties he takes.
In addition to this, Tavernier has been the top goalscorer at the club since the 2021/22 season. The campaign before was the last time a striker reached 20 goals in a single season – Alfredo Morelos, with 29 in 2020/21.
The Gers must find the man who can lead Clement’s line for him. Shankland could very much be that person, with an abundance of experience in the league with Aberdeen, St Mirren, Dundee United, and Hearts.
The only obstacle in Rangers’ way would be his current contract situation. Although it seems unlikely that he will sign a new contract anytime soon, his current deal runs until 2025. Hearts boss Steven Naismith will be under no pressure to sell to a rival.
In other Rangers news, Clement has made a frank admission ahead of the January transfer window.