Lawrence Shankland to Rangers despite Hearts contract offer ‘no surprise at all’
It would be “no surprise at all” if Lawrence Shankland does end up at Rangers instead of signing a new Hearts contract, according to Phil Hay.
The Athletic’s Leeds United reporter, who is a Jambos supporter, said on The Square Ball on 19 January that it will be “massively frustrating” and “really disappointing” if the Scottish striker moves to Ibrox, but suggested an air of resignation around the possibility.
A big new contract is on offer for the Hearts captain to extend his time at Tynecastle, where he currently has 18 months remaining on his current deal.
Hay said to a parrelel with the situation during a discussion over the future of Elland Road midfielder Archie Gray amid Liverpool links (18m 45s): “You see, I look at Hearts at the moment who have got Lawrence Shankland up front, I don’t know if you saw the derby but that’s what Shankland does, he scores goals, he’s the best finisher that we’ve had, give or take, with maybe two exceptions in my entire lifetime.
“They’re trying to get him on a new contract, don’t know if they will get him on a new contract, if he ends up at Rangers it would be no surprise at all.
“It would be massively frustrating. It will be really disappointing. But you’ll sit back and go, ‘Well, that’s football’.”
Sooner or later?
A potential Shankland move is beginning to look like a summer one if it happens at all, with Rangers badly needing striker help this month yet apparently nowhere closer to the 28-year-old almost three weeks into the window.
But unless or until he agrees improved terms at Hearts there will be plenty of Jam Tarts supporters who, like Hay, feel a sort of grim inevitability to their skipper leaving for Ibrox.
Either way it isn’t going to be cheap or especially simple given the Edinburgh side have made quite clear they don’t want to lose him.
If Rangers had the millions to put on the table to try to tempt Hearts in January then they surely would already have done so already, suggesting Philippe Clement is going to have to find cheaper, more available alternatives for now.
Fabio Silva’s arrival on loan from Wolves is helpful but he isn’t the 20-goal-a-season number nine that Shankland is, so barring some late activity it is going to leave a lot of pressure on Cyriel Dessers.
A summer move for the Scot when he has 12-months left seems a lot more possible, assuming he hasn’t signed an extension by then, although how much the Ibrox hierarchy would be willing to spend on a 29-year-old remains to be seen.
In other Rangers news, an Ibrox target is now set to secure a “bumper” transfer after an update on his medical.
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