Former Rangers captain and ex-Hearts coach Lee McCulloch has revealed Lawrence Shankland could be available for a cut-price fee.
Robbie Neilson’s former Jambos assistant was part of the management team who brought the Scotland international to Tynecastle in the summer of 2022.
As a result it’s fair to say Lee McCulloch has got a decent level of insight into the Hearts valuations of their players and the former Rangers star’s Lawrence Shankland comments have turned heads.
Lee McCulloch in cut-price Lawrence Shankland claim
Claiming that the Jambos probably value the former Dundee United striker at £2m, Big Jig reckons Rangers could snare the 28-year-old striker for little over £1m.
“His contract is up at the end of next year (season) so he’s got a year-and-a-half left,” said Lee McCulloch.
“I think Hearts will want £2million for him. I think Rangers should pay just over a million for him.”
To put this valuation into context, Rangers have just parted company with one of their main scouts as the club lament around £18.5m of misfiring striking talent.
Rangers’ four forward options in Danilo, Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers and Kemar Roofe are all either injured or badly out of form at Ibrox.
Rangers boss comments on speculation
Rangers have been repeatedly mentioned alongside Lawrence Shankland, with the comments of Lee McCulloch sure to whet some appetite for the forward.
Whilst Rangers fans are largely split on a move for the striker, who has 11 goals this season, the situation has intensified since the last international break.
With Rangers’ homegrown options seriously limited, the Hearts hitman looks a suitable option to bolster the Ibrox side’s floundering attack.
Throw in that long-term injury to Brazilian striker Danilo and suddenly an Ibrox switch looks like a no-brainer with manager Philippe Clement pressed on potential interest.
Having been snapped talking to the forward during Rangers’ 1-0 Scottish Premiership victory over Hearts this week, Philippe Clement has refused to comment on any speculation.
“You guys have written a lot about that already,” said Clement. “I’m never going to speak about players we are interested or not in.
“I hear some people really watch me a lot. I knew it in the city from one time in a restaurant. I need to think really well about what in the future I do.
“I don’t want to be in the same situation as the German national coach, that I take something out of my nose or something.
“Clearly I must watch out really hard what I am doing but I greeted all the player of Hearts along the way – nothing really special there.”
When asked about whether signing a striker is a January priority, Clement said: “Yes. It will be one of the priorities.”
Lawrence Shankland is a boyhood Rangers fan and has been linked to the Ibrox club throughout his career, although any interest has never been realised.
