As the Lawrence Shankland to Rangers saga takes yet another twist, there’s a growing feeling that the Ibrox club might live to regret failing to snare the Celtic-linked Hearts talisman.
Reports have claimed that not only are Rangers interested in signing the 28-year-old striker but that the Hearts forward – who is a dyed in the wool bluenose – wants the move.
It’s added an extra dimension to the links with reports claiming that Hearts’ valuation of the forward, believed to be somewhere in the £4m region, is too rich for Rangers’ blood.
Couple this with HITC linking the striker to not only the English Championship, but the Premier League and Old Firm rivals Celtic, and suddenly Hearts are bracing themselves for bids.
It all points to a January of what if’s, missed opportunities and – if we’re really unlucky – the Hearts captain lining up in green and white come April 6th at Ibrox.
He couldn’t, could he?
Lawrence Shankland to choose Rangers or Celtic?
Celtic are also known to be on the hunt for a new striker in the January window and Rangers might well have had their ears pricked by those Parkhead links.
But from a Lawrence Shankland point of view, there is surely only one winner if it comes to a battle between the Old Firm and not just because he’s a Rangers fan.
Celtic already have an out-and-out first choice option in Kyogo Furuhashi whilst Korean alternative Oh is a first-team frontrunner.
The Ibrox side meanwhile have a misfiring Cyriel Dessers with the versatile Fabio Silva joining on loan and both Kemar Roofe & Danilo out for the foreseeable future.
There are more immediate squad opportunities on the blue side of Glasgow and in a season which culminates in Euro 2024, this could be crucial.
Rangers will rue failure to sign striker
The links to no fewer than four Premier League clubs in Everton, Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, and Burnley will also be of major interest to Lawrence Shankland.
But the Premier League is a whole other ball game and Shankland will know this should the striker make the switch down south.
The money on offer is ridiculous but chances could be limited, even if the risk could reap major rewards.
Rangers fans who’ve been urging their club to move for the 18-goal striker all season would also probably recoil at the Scotland star tearing up the English top flight.
It leads us to one conclusion and one conclusion only:
Rangers must find a way to complete a deal for Lawrence Shankland because the alternatives mooted in the press – Celtic or otherwise – don’t bear thinking about.
