Steven Naismith claims Hearts have contingency plans in place should Rangers-linked striker Lawrence Shankland leave the club in January.
The former Rangers star and Jambos manager has also admitted that there is a chance that Hearts will have no choice but to sell his stand-in captain in the upcoming transfer window.
Speaking to Sky Sports, these are the latest soundbites surrounding Lawrence Shankland, Steven Naismith, and Rangers ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
The Scotland international striker, 28, is in a rich vein of form and as Rangers hunt for a striker next month Shankland is one of several names at the centre of discussion.
Steven Naismith: Hearts “ready” for Lawrence Shankland exit
Speaking ahead of the Edinburgh derby with Hibs this evening, Steven Naismith has claimed that transfer interest in Lawrence Shankland is no surprise.
The hitman has now scored nine goals in his last ten Scottish Premiership games with Philippe Clement fielding questions on the striker earlier in the month.
Explaining Hearts’ stance on the player, Steven Naismith claims Scotland’s 3rd place club are ready for any eventuality.
It comes with former Hearts assistant and Rangers captain Lee McCulloch insisting a fair deal can be struck with Hearts if the Gers turn Shankland’s head.
“When you’re doing well there’s always interest,” said Naismith. “I’ve always said the Scottish league is not a league that can decide when players leave or when they don’t.
“Every club in Scotland has the same idea that at some point players move on but as a club we are in a great situation.
“We’ve got a great structure, we are trying to be progressive and develop on and off the pitch and Shanks is a big part of that but there’s always going to be interest there when you’re doing well, I understand that.
“As a club, we are comfortable with the situation and what might happen. We are ready for all eventual outcomes.”
Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay told the club’s AGM earlier in December that it would take an “exceptional” offer to sell Lawrence Shankland in the upcoming window.
Rangers striker option more than a goalscorer
Rangers’ striker situation has been well documented with the Ibrox club currently relying on a resurgent Cyriel Dessers to lead the line in Glasgow’s southside.
Brazilian striker Danilo is currently recovering from knee surgery whilst the potent if not unreliable Kemar Roofe is once again being assessed for injury.
With three games to go until the winter break, Philippe Clement will be hoping to steer his side to January before investing in the squad.
At the right price, Lawrence Shankland – who is a boyhood bluenose – could represent a shrewd signing who is proven at Scottish Premiership level and who might be vital in securing the title.
But beyond that, as Steven Naismith explains here, Shankland’s influence on and off the park is about more than just scoring goals.
“He’s a big player for us,” said Naismith. “He’s a leader, he’s been the captain since Craig Gordon got injured and he’s shown loads of qualities.
“Even when he’s not been scoring he’s got great quality and I think he’d be the first to say there’s a lot of hard work that goes on deeper in the pitch to get him chances and supply him with the quality we have done.
“He’s in a rich vein of form and it’s a good time of the season but it’s also a good season to be in good form when there’s a Euros coming in the summer.”
Lawrence Shankland has been routinely linked to Rangers throughout his career, with the striker also impressing at Ayr United and Dundee United before a troublesome spell at Beerschot in Belgium.
Now in his second season at Hearts, the striker has made 72 appearances for the Jambos, scoring 43 goals.
