Rangers-linked Lawrence Shankland issues unsigned Hearts contract admission
Lawrence Shankland has issued an update on his as-yet unsigned new Hearts contract after months of links to a Rangers move.
The Jambos made the Scotland international two new deal offers during the January transfer window amid ongoing speculation that the Light Blues would try to sign him, and that he wants to go [4th Official, 4 January], with the second set of terms said to have a deadline of 31 January to sign [BBC Sport, 30 January].
With his current Tynecastle contract set to expire at the end of next season the 28-year-old says he has a “lot to consider” still and suggested the January offers were an attempt to deal with exit links, with further talks expected in the future.
The goalscorer told BBC Sport, via the Scottish Sun (4 February): “Obviously it was put out that there was the deadline on that one. As talks go on, I’ve got 18 months left on my contract so I imagine we will talk again.
“I think the contract offer was just to put it to bed at the end of the window, then we could draw a line under it and move on.
“I imagine we’ll get back into it further down the line. I’ve got a lot to consider. The age I’m at, there’s a lot to think about so that’s something I’ll do with my family.
“But I’m enjoying my football here at the minute – I can’t not enjoy it to be fair, I’m scoring a lot of goals so it’s going well.”
Shankland future not yet settled amid Rangers speculation
Barring a huge drop off in form, which his current scoring run of 16 goals in his last 17 games, including two against Rangers, suggests is unlikely, or an injury blow Shankland appears to hold all the cards.
It is no surprise that Hearts want him locked into a new deal to stay in Edinburgh for the foreseeable future, but with his current contract due to have a year left come this summer he could feasibly wait to see if there are alternatives and then decide.
Whether the situation gets that far without an agreement between him and his current club is the key variable, and if he does put pen to paper before the end of the season it likely puts any Ibrox move to bed.
Philippe Clement appears to be content to move ahead this term with Cyriel Dessers and Fabio Silva as forward options, with the big-money that was available committed to Mohamed Diomande during January.
By the end of the season the Rangers boss should finally have Danilo fit, while Sam Lammers’ loan at FC Utrecht will end, but the Belgian could also see Silva and Abdallah Sima head back to Wolves and Brighton respectively, while Kemar Roofe seems unlikely to get a contract extension given his fitness woes.
Lammers remaining in the Eredivisie is likely the best option for all concerned so a striker will still be on the agenda in the summer window, and if Shankland hasn’t committed his future to Hearts by then his price tag might be seen as manageable by the Ibrox hierarchy, given there will be little sell-on value in the future in light of his age.
The life-long Rangers supporter hasn’t rocked the boat for Steven Naismith and will no doubt continue to thrive in the Scottish capital if no genuine route to Glasgow materialises, but the summer is probably the last time it realistically could happen so he may keep the door open in case as he doesn’t sound pressured to decide immediately.
In other Rangers news, a BBC Sportscene pundit has backed David Martindale over controversy at Ibrox.
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