Lawrence Shankland wants Rangers move as update emerges on transfer for Hearts star

Lawrence Shankland wants Rangers move as update emerges on transfer for Hearts star

We Shankland remains a transfer option for Rangers, but the club is unwilling to spend “top dollar” for him this summer, according to the Scottish Daily Mail. According to a report published on the outlet’s website on July 1, the Hearts star wants the move and would “jump at the chance” to join for the Light Blues.

However, with a year remaining on his contract, the Rangers do not want to pay a high cost for someone they can sign for free in a year. The Gers and Jam Tarts are allegedly still negotiating a compromise cost, but this is considered “unlikely” at this time. Rangers hesitate as Tynecastle striker prepares for Ibrox switch. There is sense in not wanting to invest on a player who could potentially be available for free in the near future, as Shankland’s move would have little to no resale value at 28.

But the thinking was likely the same in January, when Hearts were willing to hold out for a record-breaking fee, and Ally McCoist, who knows a thing or two about scoring goals for Rangers, has suggested that a move at that stage would have resulted in the Scottish Premiership title heading to Ibrox [Scottish Sun, 21 June]. So Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen would be risking another season without a league trophy, and most likely their careers, by looking elsewhere.

If Danilo is able to return from injury and hit the ground running, and if the incoming Hamza Igamane proves to be the supreme talent he has been tipped to be [4th Official, 18 June], then the risk would have paid off.

But there simply aren’t many more proven sources of goals in Scottish football right now – 59 for Hearts in all competitions over the past two campaigns – and if the Scotland international himself wants the move it looks like a major opportunity.

John Bennett has made money available to spend this summer [Daily Record, 14 June], and if the club is interested in a move for the likes of Albion Rrahmani, which will not be cheap, the safer alternative may be to push to work something out with the Jambos. Of course, they will not want to lose their captain and talisman, but with 12 months left after many extensions were denied, they will understand that it is now or never from their end, and they can at least figure out a replacement at this time, which is far more difficult during the winter window.

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