Hearts’ reported contract deadline for Rangers-linked Lawrence Shankland has passed without any official announcement.
Reports earlier in the week had suggested that Hearts had offered Lawrence Shankland improved contract terms, pledging to make him their best paid player in a decade.
Alongside this there was a claim that Hearts had issued a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum over the deal which had to be signed by Wednesday night (31/01/24).
As we enter transfer deadline day, that ultimatum’s deadline has since passed and at the time of writing, Hearts are yet to say either way if a deal has been struck or not.
Lawrence Shankland Hearts contract ultimatum passes
Journalist Barry Anderson – who has been close to the Lawrence Shankland contract speculation all January – has claimed that he’d be “surprised” if Rangers launched a move for the Hearts striker.
Rangers are known to be on the hunt for a new striker heading into the final hours of the window with news yet to break on a potential transfer target.
At the same time, there has been no formal bid launched for Lawrence Shankland from any party and time is running out for any Ibrox deal to be struck.
The situation with the player’s contract is of interest with Hearts pushing Lawrence Shankland to sign a new deal at an interesting juncture of his Jambos career.
With 18 months to run on his current contract, this is really the final window that Hearts can substantially cash in on the striker if they cannot agree a new deal.
Rangers striker need clear in transfer window
It’s clear the striker position is an area of concern in the squad for Rangers fans heading into the second half of the season.
The Gers have lost Kemar Roofe and Danilo to long-term injuries this season with it increasingly unlikely they will play a big role, if any at all, in this season.
It leaves Cyriel Dessers as the only out-and-out number 9 in the squad with new signing Fabio Silva also touted to fill in in the position when called upon.
Rangers have also lost Abdallah Sima to a long-term injury in a monumental blow given the Senegalese forward netted 15 goals in the first half of the season.
It all points to a new striker joining Rangers on deadline day and with no Hearts announcement on a new Lawrence Shankland contract as things stand, speculation continues to be rife.
