£5m-rated near 30-goal striker opens door to Rangers move in exciting transfer comments
07/05/2024 22:16
Barely a transfer window goes by that Rangers aren't linked to Hearts forward Lawrence Shankland.
Ever since the Scotland international's prolific time at Ayr United, Rangers have been mentioned as a potential destination for the hitman.
Some even believe that a failure to stump up for this season's PFA Scotland Player of the Year in January might just have cost Rangers the title.
But as the season winds to an end, Lawrence Shankland is back amongst the conversation at Ibrox and, according to the hitman himself, open to taking the next step in his career.
Having banged in 28 goals in maroon this season, Shanks insists he 'owes it to himself' to play at a higher level next season.
Shankland aims for 'higher level'
Lawrence Shankland was speaking after the PFA Scotland Player of the Year awards.
The striker was voted by his peers to have been the best performing player in Scotland this season, Shankland's goals hauling Hearts into 3rd.
Shanks also pipped Rangers pair Jack Butland and James Tavernier to the award.
Jambos manager Steven Naismith has previously suggested Hearts are relaxed over the ex-Dundee United hitman's future, very much taking a 'what will be, will be' approach.
Now, for really the first time the striker has been much more direct about his future with Lawrence Shankland about to enter the final year of his contract in Gorgie.
"I probably couldn't tell you the answer to that to be honest," Shankland told the Herald when asked about his future.
"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."
The striker then added: "You want to push on.
"Can I get somewhere where I say, 'Right, that wasn't good enough'? I don't feel I have experienced that yet. You could finish your career and have regrets and say, 'I wish I had tried that and seen if I could play there'. If you get the chance you try and go and do it."
Asked if that could involve a move to England, Shankland replied: "I don't know.
"There are loads of leagues all over Europe. I have been abroad before. I will see. I will go abroad again.
"But, as I say, I am still under contract at Hearts, and I would never disrespect that position."
Speaking about Naismith's understanding of his career ambitions: "We have had really open conversations about it, Naisy, myself and the club as a whole. We all understand the situation.
"They want me to progress in my career as well and do really well. The main thing is everybody is on the same page. We will see what the summer brings."
Asked if he could stay at Hearts, Shankland said: "Yep. That is another option.
"I have got a duty and a responsibility to set myself up as well and I feel like I owe that to myself with how hard I have worked in my career. I will look to do that as well.
"If that is at Hearts then so be it, I will be happy."
Will Rangers stump up for hitman?
There's no skirting around the fact Lawrence Shankland is approaching a big crossroads in his career this summer, with the striker now 28-years-old.
The talismanic Hearts hitman is also entering the final year of his contract and if the Jambos are to cash in on the striker, now is the time.
The question then becomes just how much do the Tynecastle club want for their goalscoring striker?
Back in January, the club's CEO claimed that it would've taken a Scottish club record fee somewhere in the region of £5m to lure Lawrence Shankland from the Jambos.
But six months on there's a feeling that Hearts will need to climb down from their expectations in order to strike a balance which suits all parties.
Rangers spent a combined total of around £11m of Cyriel Dessers and Danilo last season.
It would take a fraction of that to sign Scotland's Player of the Year and a boyhood bluenose to boot.
