Rangers-linked Lawrence Shankland may not have been Ibrox-bound, but he certainly looked like moving on from Hearts.
A goal machine up until this season, the Scotland striker seems to have constantly been linked to Gers over the last few seasons – even beyond, stretching back to his Ayr United days.
Shankland’s goals have dried up this season, nabbing just four after getting 31 last season and over 50 across two campaigns. So interest, from Rangers or otherwise, has likely dried up.
But Hearts dropped a massive hint Shankland would be on the move with the news they were targeting a new striker, after CEO Andrew McKinlay admitted his gut feeling the 29-year-old would leave.
Shankland himself then appeared to suggest the same by strongly hinting he would be on the move at the end of his deal.
But his fate may not be decided with the Jambos now hinting they could look to strike a deal.
- READ MORE: Rangers won’t get ‘huge cash injection’ from 49ers as financial expert names biggest issue
Hearts plan talks with Rangers-linked Lawrence Shankland
Tynecastle boss Neil Critchley insists the club will be aiming to hold talks with Shankland, along with their other out of contract stars.
They hope to persuade the Rangers-linked hitman that his future does lie with them after all.
And talks will soon take place to gauge whether he is interested in extending his stay, which looked very unlikely at one stage.
“We are concentrating on the games at the moment,” Critchley told the Edinburgh Evening News. “I’m sure, with Shanks and some of the other players who are out of contract in the summer, those talks will come,
“We need to make sure we take care of business in the league first before we start planning further ahead with those players. Those conversations will come, but at the moment our full concentration is on the team and the players understand that.
“Shanks has been an integral member of the team over the last few years and he has scored a lot of goals. We know his importance to the team.
“He also has his own thoughts, opinions, and his career to think about. At some point in the next few weeks and months, I’m sure that situation will become clearer.
“We just have to take care of our own business in the league first and then we can think about where we are going to go with Shanks and some other players.
“Those conversations will happen. They haven’t happened yet but they will at some point.”
Will Rangers still be interest in Shankland?
Whether or not there was ever any concrete interest from Ibrox has always been up for debate – there was a belief some board members were keen but Philippe Clement was not.
Would they be interested now for free?
Derek Ferguson thinks so as he predicted Gers would make their move, explaining he would also he happy if they did so.
But there is also a belief Rangers dodged a bullet by not signing Shankland and would be better off casting their glances elsewhere.
