Dan Carter

Wed 24 January 2024 16:10, UK

Before the transfer window even opened this January, links began to emerge between Lawrence Shankland and Rangers and Philippe Clement looked to add to his frontline at Ibrox.

However, with just over a week left on the window, no move has been made yet and the 28-year-old remains a Hearts player, with the Light Blues adding to other areas of the squad before considering a move for the Scottish international.

That doesn’t mean that a last-ditch move is completely off of the cards however, especially as it seems that Hearts are already beginning to look at new number nines themselves so that they are prepared if Shankland does leave Tynecastle.

According to Sun journalist Alan Nixon (24 January), Steven Naismith’s side are keen on a move for Lys Mousset this month. The French forward is currently a free agent and therefore available on a free transfer.

Hearts are poised to invite the former Sheffield United and Bournemouth forward to Edinburgh to begin talks over a potential deal and check his fitness before potentially offering him a contract at Tynecastle.

Nixon has suggested that this move is particularly because Hearts fear losing Shankland this month, but their move to attempt to secure Mousset’s future may well have left the door open for Rangers to come in and take their star man away from Edinburgh.

Should Mousset earn himself a contract, Naismith may be slightly more willing to allow Shankland to depart in the closing stages of the January window, as long as the Gers are still willing to match their high asking price.

Although Fabio Silva has already joined the ranks in Glasgow, the Portuguese forward has never been particularly prolific in front of goal throughout his career and Clement still needs a consistent 20-goal-a-season forward before the month is out.

Shankland would manage to fill that hole in Rangers’ squad and while it remains to be seen whether or not those in charge at Ibrox will shell out the money required to secure the Scottish forward, it seems as though a late move could be on the cards this month.

Hopefully, Rangers won’t allow such a clear opportunity to pass them by before the month is out, otherwise, they could be made to regret it for the remainder of the season as they look to close the gap to Celtic.

In other Rangers news, Mohamed Diomande is set to arrive at Ibrox on Wednesday to complete his move to the Gers

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