Sport
View: Manager’s ‘Massively Important’ admission could open door for Rangers to land striker
Steven Naismith accepts that Lawrence Shankland will have to think carefully about his Hearts future amid ongoing links with Rangers.
Gers fans were disappointed that the club did not make a move for the prolific striker during the January transfer window.
Indeed, Naismith confirmed at his weekly press conference on Friday (2 February) that no bids were made for Shankland at all.
As the talk surrounding the Scotland international intensified in January, it was reported that Hearts had set him a deadline to sign a new deal.
That deadline passed without any news of a new deal being signed, meaning Shankland is out contract next year as things stand.
And Naismith, while understandably delighted Shankland remains at Tynecastle, admits the player’s future still remains uncertain.
“We want him to be here as long as he can be. If, in the future, something can be done then I’m sure as a club we will look to do that,” he said, as quoted by STV News [2 February].
“Lawrence is at a massively important part of his career, so he needs to weigh everything up and if that takes time then that will take time.”
The problem Hearts have is that Shankland will be into the final 12 months of his contract by the time the transfer window reopens.
If Rangers were being asked to pay over the odds in January, that will surely not be the case come the summer as Hearts’ hand will be forced.
There may well be other striker targets Rangers are eyeing up, but Shankland would certainly tick plenty of boxes for the Gers.
As Naismith says, the 28-year-old has plenty to weigh up. If Rangers have any sort of interest, now is the time to start turning the screw a little.
