Lawrence Shankland made SECOND Hearts contract offer as club pile on the years to tempt striker to stay

Hearts have made a second improved contract offer to Lawrence Shankland in a bid to keep him at Tynecastle.

The striker was offered a new deal by Jambos chiefs last month with speculation rife over his future in Gorgie with 18 months left on his current contract. But he turned that down with claims the wage rise was only minimal. Now, Sky Sports say that “Hearts have made a second contract offer to captain Lawrence Shankland".

The report states the deal would keep the 28-year-old Scotland strike star at the club for the next three-and-a-half years with BBC Scotland adding that he has a deadline of Wednesday night. Shankland has netted 20 goals for both club and country this season and is the club’s prized asset. Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay said Hearts had gone above and beyond their established wage brackets to try to keep Shankland with their initial offer but warned fans breaking the bank now could come back to bite them in the future.

He said: "We'll get people saying we should pay him whatever he wants and I understand that. But we've got to look at things in the immediate here and now and also in the future.”

Steven Naismith’s side are well on course for a third place finish in the Scottish Premiership and an extension for Shankland would be a huge boost to the club. Hearts are also looking to make signings with a pre-contract agreed with Ross County star Yan Dhanda, while Livingston left back James Penrice is also a target for next term along with Hibs who are keen to beat their rivals to his signature.