Rangers transfer stance on Hearts ace Lawrence Shankland now clearer after Ibrox finance news
Rangers boss Philippe Clement has been told that there will be money available to spend at the end of the season.
And that means there can now be no excuses not to move for Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland ahead of next season.
The Gers signed Mohamed Diomande for a reported fee of £4.5million in January, while Oscar Cortes arrived on loan with the right to buy.
Fabio Silva was another arrival, albeit with his time at Ibrox unlikely to extend beyond his loan deal expiring in the summer.
Rangers linked with Shankland in January transfer window
Some wondered whether it would perhaps be a quieter summer window at Ibrox, especially considering the £20m outlay last year.
Speaking to Rangers Review on Monday (12 February), however, Rangers finance officer James Taylor appeared to suggest otherwise.
“There are funds that we will look to utilise and build the squad with,” he said, albeit with the caveat the club must be smart with what they have.
As things stand, signing another striker will likely be on Clement’s list of targets for the end of the season.
The squad Clement now has available to him is the best in the Scottish Premiership – sorry, Celtic – and it will only get stronger.
Bringing in Shankland, hailed as “outstanding” by Kris Boyd, would further improve the quality. The Scotland international was strongly linked in January but no bids were made.
Hearts could be forced to sell Shankland
As things stand, Shankland will be out of contract at Tynecastle in 16 months’ time as he has yet to agree fresh terms.
Hearts would therefore be more open to selling their prized asset, although they could still possibly demand a fee of £4m or more.
If there are indeed funds available to Clement, then money must be put aside for that deal to go through in the summer.
While it could be argued there are cheaper options out there, Shankland has more than proved his worth in this league, and indeed in Europe.
It is too early for fans to start thinking about next season, of course, but those behind the scenes at Ibrox will be doing just that.
And Shankland’s contract situation at Hearts is no doubt something Rangers chiefs are keeping a particularly close eye on.
In other Rangers news, Hugh Keevins raised a “foreign managers” point after something Clement said last week.
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