Daniel Lewis

Thu 28 December 2023 8:10, UK

If Rangers were not serious about their interest in Hearts forward Lawrence Shankland before now, then they certainly should be after his late strike against Hibernian.

The Scotland international has been regularly touted as a target for the Light Blues in recent weeks ahead of the January transfer window opening on 1 January.

Shankland may well have added some extra thousands to his price tag on Wednesday (27 December), though, with his clinical finish to snatch victory for Hearts in the Edinburgh derby.

With 93 minutes of the contest played at Easter Road, Shankland controlled a loose ball on the edge of the box, brought it inside on his left foot and curled a shot into the top-left corner.

Cue scenes of pandemonium behind the goal as Shankland celebrated his 11th goal in 19 Scottish Premiership appearances this season. At this rate, he could easily better last term’s return of 24 goals in 37 games.

In the view of pundit Kris Boyd, there is nobody better at finishing in the division that the 28-year-old – even Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi.

“This little touch here to open it up… it’s his weaker foot as well,” Boyd told Sky Sports Main Event [27 December, 09:58pm].

“I’ve spoken about Kyogo in this league in terms of different type of strikers. Kyogo couldn’t finish like that. [Shankland’s] finishing is unbelievable, and for me he’s the best in the league.”

There can be no real complaints about that considering Shankland tops the Scottish Premiership scoring charts.

Rangers could do with another forward player, even more so with Cyriel Dessers set for the Africa Cup of Nations and Danilo sidelined, and Shankland ticks every possible box.

Agreeing a fee with Hearts is another matter entirely, but if funds can be freed up by selling another player, that is a route the Gers simply have to go down.

As Boyd says, he really is an “unbelievable” talent and could potentially be the difference between Rangers finishing first this season or second.

In other Rangers news, Joshua Barrie has shared what he has heard about a January move for another attacking player.