For every transfer window and several months in between, Rangers have been linked with a move for Lawrence Shankland.
The Hearts skipper, with 60 goals in 105 games since joining the capital outfit, is an obvious target, his status as a homegrown player and regular visitor to Ibrox in his youth would also make him a solid addition to the squad.
His status as an international player, as well as his prolific form over the last two seasons more than justified the exorbitant transfer fee being demanded by Hearts, however, as the months tick down on his contract, could this be Lawrence Shankland’s best chance of signing for Rangers?
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Lawrence Shankland won’t get a better chance to sign for Rangers
According to Barry Anderson of the Edinburgh Evening News, there are currently no further talks taking place over a new contract for the 29-year old, although the Tynecastle side would reconsider talks if they were given encouragement of an agreement.
Looking at what Shankland said at the end of last season, they shouldn’t hold their breath when asked if he will be staying at Hearts:
“I probably couldn’t tell you the answer to that to be honest.
“I am coming to a point in my contract with Hearts going into my last year where conversations will be had, there is no point in denying that. We will need to see what comes of those conversations.
“I have still got ambitions to get to a level. In football you always find your level. Then you get to a level and say, ‘Right, I wasn’t good enough there’. I don’t feel like I have got to that level that I am not good enough.
“It would be nice to kick on, see how far I can go in the game, try and play at a higher level than this. We will see what it brings. But I would never be disrespectful to what I have got at Hearts.
“The club have been great for me since I have gone there and have given me a real platform to perform at a high level with a top Scottish club. I really enjoy it there. If I am there for the next season, I am more than happy.”
Shankland is a tap-in Rangers can’t afford to miss
Scott McKenna was a “no brainer” according to Andy Halliday and Barry Ferguson has said that Lennon Miller is “ready” to play for Rangers too.
Lawrence Shankland on a three-year contract is the safest pair of hands and rotation option that Rangers could go for on a pre-contract agreement in January.
He wouldn’t block Hamza Igamane given that the young Moroccan can play on the wing but what it would allow, is more freedom in terms of selling Cyriel Dessers.
A fee was reported to have been agreed with Atlanta United only for the big Nigeria international to turn the move down.
Having started the season on fire, his form in the last few games is typical of what happened at the end of the last campaign when he ran out of steam playing every few days.
With Danilo back and scoring goals in training, that shouldn’t be an issue.
On a free transfer, Lawrence Shankland is the sort of tap in that Dessers has a reputation for missing since joining Rangers, but that the Hearts number nine has built his on.
