Daniel Lewis

Thu 28 December 2023 18:40, UK

Reported Rangers target Lawrence Shankland further enhanced his reputation on Wednesday (27 December) with his late winner for Hearts against Hibernian.

That has only increased talk of the Gers potentially making a move for the Scotland international when the transfer window officially opens for business next week.

Rangers’ need for another attacking players has lessened with Fabio Silva now set to arrive on a half-season loan from Wolves, but Shankland would be a longer-term investment.

Exactly how much it would take to land Shankland is unknown, but with just 18 months to run on his existing deal, it would surely be a sum the Gers could afford.

However, Fabrizio Romano reported on his personal Twitter account on Thursday (28 December) that Hearts are now preparing to offer the 28-year-old a new contract.

“Told Hearts are preparing to offer Lawrence Shankland a new deal after several clubs were interested in signing him in January,” the transfer expert said.

Shankland leads the goalscoring charts in the Scottish Premiership with 11 in 19 appearances thus far, including his well-taken strike at Easter Road to win the Edinburgh derby.

That made it five goals in his past four matches – the type of form that could easily see him match or better last term’s tally of 24 goals for the campaign.

It makes a move for Shankland a no-brainer, as the Gers board know that he is a forward capable of hitting the ground running and will remain at Ibrox way after Silva has returned to Wolves.

If a new deal is offered and signed, however, then it makes it all rather more complicated.

It means Hearts would effectively be able to ask for anything they wanted, at which point Rangers would have to accept defeat and move on.

For now, this is one to keep an eye on for any further updates prior to the window opening.

In other Rangers news, a behind-the-scenes figure is already pulling the strings at Ibrox despite not officially being in the job.