Hearts talisman Lawrence Shankland is never far from links to Rangers Football Club.
The Scotland international striker, 29, is a key player for Hearts but a lack of goals this season has contributed to the sacking of Jambos boss Steven Naismith.
In eight matches, the striker is yet to find the back of the net.
With the winds of change sweeping through Hearts, who are currently bottom of the Scottish Premiership, the situation with Lawrence Shankland hangs over Gorgie.
Out of contract and available on a free at the end of the season, Jambos CEO Andrew McKinlay has been discussing the striker’s future.
Lawrence Shankland to ‘see out’ Hearts contract
There were strong Rangers links to Lawrence Shankland last season ahead of the January transfer window.
The ex-Ayr United and Dundee United striker had hit a rich vein of form – scoring 31 goals in total at Tynecastle last year – and eventually wound up picking up both the golden boot and Scotland’s Player of the Year award.
Rangers’ failure to sign Shankland – who was valued at around £5m by Hearts last January – is often cited as a major factor in the club’s eventual title collapse.
Now, Andrew McKinlay has confirmed that whilst Hearts haven’t received any offers for Shankland, the chance of a January exit this season is increasingly slim.
That’s because the Hearts CEO has revealed that the Jambos believe the forward will now see out his contract in Edinburgh.
“It’s been widely documented that we didn’t receive any offers,” McKinlay told Sky Sports.
“Which surprised me given Lawrence’s performances last season.
“It certainly didn’t disappoint me because I’m delighted to keep Lawrence for this year and I hope for longer.
“As it stands at the moment, it’s for this year.”
Asked about selling Shankland in January before his contract runs out next season, McKinlay replied: “I don’t see there being a decision to make in January.
“As we sit here now it looks like Lawrence will see out the last year of his contract.”
Hearts want Rangers-linked talisman to stay
The situation with Lawrence Shankland at Hearts will certainly prick the ears of Rangers supporters.
Whilst there’s a feeling the club were being held to ransom with Hearts’ valuation last campaign, the fact the Gers could sign the boyhood bluenose on a free next summer will alert fans.
Shankland might be out of form at the moment, but the prospect of picking up a lethal homegrown striker who knows what it means to play for Rangers is sure to be considered at Ibrox.
A switch to Rangers is something which Hearts and McKinlay are desperate to avoid, despite Shankland rejecting the Jambos’ latest offer of a new contract.
“The last offer we made was rejected,” said McKinlay. “There’s no offer that sits out there at the moment.
“Obviously if his advisor’s want to speak to us or he wanted to speak to us, then we’d have a conversation.”
Later McKinlay added: “I would be delighted to have conversation if there is one to be had.
“To see if there’s a way that we could persuade him to stay here longer.”
When asked if the situation with Shankland’s contract is impacting the striker’s form, McKinlay told reporters ‘you’ll need to ask Lawrence that’.
“Lawrence has a slow start to last season,” said McKinley. “You don’t lose overnight what he’s had for the last two seasons.
“He’s been phenomenal over the last two seasons for this club. If it doesn’t return on Saturday, he’ll return very, very soon.
“I’ve no doubt about that.”
