Pete Hanson

Sat 9 December 2023 7:10, UK

Hearts will “just laugh” if Rangers make a bid of around £1million for striker Lawrence Shankland, according to the Fourth Official.

Former Rangers captain Lee McCulloch said on PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show (8 December) that a move for Shankland would be a “no-brainer” after it was confirmed Rangers ace Danilo may require surgery on a knee injury.

He added that he felt the Jambos would want around £2million to let Shankland make the move to Ibrox, while the Light Blues should be looking to stump up around half of that.

Replying to the clip on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Fourth Official scoffed at the suggestion.

“Hearts will just laugh at a £1 million offer for Lawrence Shankland,” the Fourth Official wrote.

Cough up

The truth is that Rangers were badly in need of reinforcements up front even before news of Danilo’s injury broke and Philippe Clement has spoken of how the position is a priority for him to target during the January transfer window.

But Danilo’s injury has certainly exacerbated the need for reinforcement, with Kemar Roofe’s fitness still a huge concern and Cyriel Dessers struggling to prove he can score the goals to fire Rangers to major trophies.

Shankland would represent a great option, he scored 24 goals in 37 Scottish Premiership outings last season and has six in 15 this time around.

You get the sense there is a very genuine interest from Rangers’ side but there has to be a sense of realism here. Hearts have ambitions of their own, they are unlikely to just allow a prized asset to go for a cut-price fee.

If the Gers want to land their man then they are going to have to make sure they pay his asking price, it’s as simple as that.

In other Rangers news, Graham Spiers has spoken out after “bold” claims were made about the Light Blues by a BBC Scotland presenter.