- Rangers pushing to complete Lawrence Shankland signing within 48 hours as clause deadline approaches.
- Hearts face major blow after captain led Premiership title challenge and finished above Rangers. Shankland viewed as ideal fit for Andrew Cavenagh’s new “pro-Scottish bias” recruitment strategy.
Rangers are set to complete their first summer signing and make a real statement of Scottish Premiership intent by bringing Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland to Ibrox.
Rangers, under Russell Martin, turned down the opportunity to sign the 30-year-old last summer on a free, with the former Dundee United ace extending his Tynecastle contract.
Shankland signed a three-year deal when he was persuaded by Derek McInnes to stay at the Jambos last summer.
Lawrence Shankland Hearts contract clause
However, reports now suggest that the striker holds all the cards, with a cut-off clause put in allowing the forward to cancel the deal after only a year.
Now Rangers transfer chiefs are set to swoop to sign Shankland on a free transfer, in a deal that would prove lucrative for the Scotland star, as it would bag him a huge signing on fee due to the lack of a transfer fee.
Talks remain ongoing but the Gers are looking to complete the deal within the next 48 hours.
This development will come as a significant blow to Hearts, Tony Bloom and Derek McInnes after supporters watched Shankland spearhead a genuine title push last season.
The Gorgie club finished above Rangers in second place and led the Premiership for 250 days before a final day defeat to Celtic.
Whether Hearts respond with an improved counter-offer remains unclear, but time is beginning to work against them with Rangers keen to conclude negotiations swiftly before the clause expires.
There is also increasing urgency from the player’s perspective.
Shankland is currently on holiday but is due to report for Scotland duty later this week ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Curacao at Hampden, before Steve Clarke’s 26-man squad departs for the World Cup.
Lawrence Shankland matches Gers recruitment reshuffle
The move would also align closely with chairman Andrew Cavenagh’s stated recruitment strategy.
This swoop comes following his recent insistence that Rangers intend to prioritise Scottish and SPFL-proven talent wherever possible this summer.
“Our focus is on what is ahead of us and we are very clear that we need to add chemistry, leadership, guile, football IQ,” Cavenagh explained.
“We have a pro-Scottish bias in the club today.
“Meaning if you have two players roughly equal and one is Scottish we will take the Scottish player.”
Cavenagh also outlined the club’s emphasis on player profiling and league familiarity as Rangers attempt to build a squad more suited to the demands of Scottish football.
“When we look at what positions we are filling we don’t start with people, we start with profiles,” he said.
“What positions is it, what type of person is it? An athletic centre-back or a ball-winning centre-back for example. How big, how fast?
“We are always asking who is Scottish that fits that profile. Every time we are looking at that.
“That’s not to say we can just go out and grab 11 Scots off the street and win the title.
“It is a bias towards Scottish players but that doesn’t mean that’s the only criteria we look at to build a winning team.”
Captain and leader Ibrox needs
“Well, I think you’ve seen what he’s been able to do at Hearts, he leads by example,” Boyd said.
The ex-Scotland star went further, arguing that modern squads cannot rely on a single figurehead.
But instead need multiple voices capable of setting standards day-to-day.
“There’s one thing, the standards need to be lifted at Ibrox, and at the training centre as well,” he said.
“The more leaders you can get in, the better. It would be a big step up, but he’s led Hearts this season and been outstanding at it.
“I’ve got to be honest with you, I would be looking to bring in two or three captains.
“You know, I think we, as a group, when I was there, you would look at it and say, yes, Barry Ferguson was your captain, David Weir was your captain.
“But I would say there was another seven or eight that could quite easily have led the dressing room.
“There’s enough trouble in football without actually going looking for it,” he said.
“So, if the dressing room completes itself, what difference that makes to you.
“Lawrence going in there, if that is the case, then I’m sure he would help.”
Readrangers.com analysis – Jack Cranmer
Now Boyd’s wish looks to have come true.
Shankland, by all accounts, looks to be the first ‘captain’ to arrive at Ibrox and the first buy of Cavenagh’s “pro-Scottish bias.”
If the deal is completed, Shankland would not simply arrive as a goalscorer or a marquee Scottish signing.
But as one of the clearest early statements yet of the direction Rangers are attempting to move under Cavenagh and Rohl.
The Scotland international would embody almost every characteristic the club have publicly prioritised since the end of last season.
He has proven Premiership experience, leadership credentials, personality, dressing-room authority and an understanding of the pressures unique to Scottish football.
He knows the division, has carried captaincy responsibility under pressure and has led a title challenge.
But most importantly he has consistently delivered goals inside the exact environment Rangers are trying to master again.
After a season in which Rangers were repeatedly criticised for lacking leadership, emotional control and enough players capable of handling difficult domestic moments, his influence could be vital.
Rangers are also linked with a swoop for another key Jambo player. Aussie midfield dynamo Cammy Devlin is also on Rohl’s radar as MLS clubs circle the World Cup bound star.
