Rangers transfer news as Lawrence Shankland to Ibrox hits ‘Fever pitch’ overnight
Rumours surrounding a possible move to Rangers for Lawrence Shankland have hit “fever pitch” overnight after the Hearts striker was not involved in their Scottish Cup clash, according to Kieth Jackson.
The Daily Record journalist shared that, while he may simply have been ill, Shankland should have known the optics of reportedly being in talks over a new contract, not signing the deal, and then not showing up for their next game.
With heavy links to a move to Ibrox circling the striker, Jackson insisted he should have made an effort to at least turn up if he wasn’t going to play, and if he is not involved in their next game with Dundee, it will trigger alarm bells.
Writing in his Daily Record column [22 January], Jackson shared: “When skipper Lawrence Shankland failed to make the short journey from Tynecastle to Ainslie Park for Hearts’ Scottish Cup tie with near neighbours Spartans, a sense of deep suspicion stretched the length of Gorgie Road.
“If Shankland had an upset tummy or a dose of the sniffles then, how could he reasonably have been expected to put himself in the line of duty? And yet the absolute truth of the matter is the player himself will have known exactly how his absence was likely to go down in terms of perception alone.
“Locked in contract talks with the club one day. Too ill to get out of bed the next, without a pen being put to paper.
“And with speculation raging all around that Rangers might be about to weigh in with an offer in a bid to smuggle him across the M8 to Ibrox before the transfer window closes at the start of next week. If Shankland didn’t realise that kind of coded message he was sending out then, at the age of 28, he should be old enough to know better.
“Hearts face a visit from the Dens Park outfit tomorrow night when the second half of the top flight season gets underway. If Shankland is still clutching a doctor’s line by the time Tony Docherty’s team arrives in the capital then it won’t be alarm bells clattering at Tynecastle, it will be the sound of out-and-out panic.”
This doesn’t look good for Hearts
Players are allowed to be ill without the expectation of showing their faces just in case there are some transfer rumours, but it’s more than just that with Shankland. The comments from his manager compounded the issue, and speculation is rife.
Steven Naismith went on record to claim that nobody had seen or heard from the striker since last Tuesday or Wednesday, other than a message to the medical staff and advice that he should remain home from training.
Those signs simply don’t look good. From being locked in contract talks to not showing up for training at all, whatever the reason might be, and the uncertainty of his manager – all signs point towards something going on behind the scenes at Tynecastle.
Rangers’ interest is longstanding and with a striker still top priority in the transfer window, it’s likely to be a busy week, with plenty of speculation continuing to plague Hearts and Shankland, while those at Ibrox will be rubbing their hands together.
In other Rangers news, Mohamed Diomande is set for crunch talks after his medical.
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