Top Rangers target drops huge Hearts transfer bombshell as Man Utd star given Celtic transfer pitch. Will Rangers snap up a long-standing transfer target from Hearts in January? Long-term Rangers target Lawrence Shankland has confirmed that there is virtually no prospect of him extending his contract with Hearts.
The Premiership Golden Boot winner has just seven months remaining on his three-year deal at Tynecastle, two of them record-breaking campaigns for the striker, which have earned him a regular spot in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad at international level. The 29-year-old’s incredible form over the last two seasons has made him a standout target for Rangers in recent transfer windows, with many experts highlighting the striker area as a weakness in Philippe Clement’s side. Shankland acts as captain for the Edinburgh based side and has long been viewed as a key part of the club’s future. However, he has already turned down two contract offers to extend his stay in the capital earlier this year and has admitted to Edinburgh Evening News that he is content with this season being his last in Gorgie.
Speaking ahead of his side’s crucial clash with Celtic, Shankland explained: “Right now, at this moment in time, my contract will be finishing. I won’t have one at Hearts, so that indicates that you move on. “That’s the situation where we’re at with the club. That’s where we left it. There is no contract on the table. That was an agreement we were happy to leave at that point. Both of us accepted it and moved on. That’s where it’s been since then. “Regarding the contract, there’s not been any contact [since]. I think right now, as it stands, both the club and myself are comfortable where we’re at. In terms of talks, we’ll move forward and see how the next couple of months go. But more importantly than that, obviously everybody’s been concentrating on trying to improve things on the pitch. Once that’s done, I imagine we can worry about things off it.” Shankland’s side are struggling at the bottom end of the Premiership table but are determined to cause an upset against Celtic this weekend.
“Playing on the big nights, that’s why you come to a club like Hearts. That’s why you play in all these big games, including Saturday night. Occasions like that at Tynecastle are always the most enjoyable ones. Getting the chance to lead the boys out to these games is obviously great. You never say never in football. Right now, the situation, if you’re asking me, that’s where it’s at.”
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