Hearts want to sign another striker amid Rangers links to talismanic captain Lawrence Shankland.
The Ibrox side have been strongly linked with a January move for form hitman Shankland, who is the Premiership’s top scorer this season (12).
Rangers are known to be on the hunt for a striker with Danilo recovering from knee surgery and Kemar Roofe once again back on the treatment table.
It’s led to much speculation surrounding the future of Lawrence Shankland and now a report in the Edinburgh Evening News is claiming Hearts are looking at bringing in a new striker.
But before Rangers fans start thinking that the transfer will free up the 28-year-old for a switch to Glasgow, there is a catch.
Hearts step up striker hunt
As reported by journalist Barry Anderson, Hearts are actually looking for a new striker to partner Lawrence Shankland at Tynecastle.
Describing the striker hunt as “ongoing”, Steven Naismith is looking for someone to share the burden of goalscoring in the Hearts side.
In the meantime, the Jambos look likely to turn to Costa Rican attacker Kenneth Vargas but it appears Rangers are not the only ones on the hunt for a hitman this January.
Lawrence Shankland to Rangers?
The report comes as Rangers continue to be mentioned alongside a January transfer move for Lawrence Shankland.
The Gers have already added Wolves forward Fabio Silva on loan but there’s a feeling that the club still needs another couple of bodies at the top end of the park in their squad.
An out-and-out striker type in the mould of Lawrence Shankland is very much top of Philippe Clement’s wishlist but a wide attacker, a midfielder, and a left-back are also very much desired.
Steven Naismith has been open about Hearts’ stance on their talismanic striker with the Jambos open to selling the forward for the right price.
The club’s CEO Andrew McKinlay told the Hearts AGM back in December that it would take an “extraordinary” offer to sign the striker.
Lawrence Shankland has made 27 appearances for Hearts this season, scoring 17 goals, with the Scotland international entering the final 18 months of his Tynecastle deal.
The Jambos are also said to be keen on extending the striker’s current contract.
