- Rangers closing in on Lawrence Shankland signing, with deal expected to be finalised within 48 hours.
- Contract break clause allows Hearts captain to leave despite recent extension and strong season.
- Chris Sutton insists Shankland should have signed for Celtic instead of moving towards Rangers.
Rangers are set to complete a sensational early summer transfer move to bring in Hearts captain and talisman Lawrence Shankland on a free transfer from Gorgie.
The Scotland star, who is in Steve Clarke’s squad for the World Cup in North America this summer is set to make the journey across the M8 and sign for Danny Rohl’s side within 48 hours.
He signed a reported three-year extension last summer, after Rangers and Russell Martin rejected the chance to sign the then-out-of-contract striker.
However, it has emerged that the contract has a break clause within it, allowing Shankland to freely move to Ibrox.
Chris Sutton calls on Celtic to sign Lawrence Shankland
However, a Celtic legend has claimed that Shankland should be heading to the other side of Glasgow and to Parkhead.
Speaking on his assessment of last season’s title race in his Daily Record column, Sutton pointed directly to the striker’s impact in against the Old Firm.
He also questioned how Scottish football’s two biggest clubs allowed a proven finisher to operate out with their walls.
“I then look over at Tynecastle at Lawrence Shankland and the brilliant way he took his goal against Rangers,” Sutton said.
The former Celtic striker went further.
Sutton insisting the forward should already have been operating at Parkhead.
“Everyone keeps saying he should have been at Ibrox last summer. Forget that – he should have been at Celtic Park,” he added.
Sutton also challenged suggestions that sentimental factors, including perceived Old Firm allegiances, should have influenced recruitment decisions.
“Ignore all the rubbish about him being a Rangers fan,” he added.
“Celtic needed a reliable striker last summer. One of the best in the business was out of contract on their own doorstep.”
In Sutton’s view, the failure to act decisively had consequences at the sharp end of the title race.
“They should have been dragging him back along the M8. If Celtic had Shankland in their team, there wouldn’t even be a title race this season.”
While Sutton’s comments were aimed at Celtic’s recruitment strategy, they have added fresh weight to the argument that Rangers must now move decisively to avoid missing out again.
Rangers look to add Lawrence Shankland as ‘Scottish captain’
At Ibrox, the striker is already viewed as a priority target as part of Rohl’s squad rebuild.
The club are preparing for what could be one of the most important summers in recent memory.
Gers chairman Andrew Cavenagh has already spoken about the club having a “pro-Scottish bias” this summer in terms of transfer targets.
While Rohl himself has demanded “leaders” from his board.
Rangers legend Kris Boyd also called for Shankland to sign as one of several “Scottish captains” needed at Ibrox for the season ahead.
Readrangers.com analysis – Jack Cranmer
The attraction is clear. Shankland brings proven Premiership output, leadership responsibility, and a record of delivering in high-pressure fixtures, including against Rangers themselves.
More importantly, he represents a profile Rangers have publicly committed to prioritising this summer.
He is experienced, domestically adapted, and capable of immediate impact without transition risk.
Sutton’s intervention has only sharpened that narrative.
If one of Celtic’s most vocal former players believes the opportunity was missed at Parkhead.
Then the implication for Rangers is obvious and hesitation is no longer an option in a market where proven Scottish goalscorers of this level are increasingly rare.
The Tynecastle side are now preparing for the loss off their captain and top scorer.
And with the player’s contract situation still unresolved, Rangers are now positioned at a decisive point in negotiations.
And while Sutton framed his argument around Celtic’s failure to act.
Now, it is Rangers who now have the clearest route to correct that perceived oversight, by ensuring Shankland does not slip past them once again.
