Lawrence Shankland sends Rangers transfer sleuths into frenzy as Hearts striker 'likes' cup final party post

Lawrence Shankland may have just sent Rangers transfer sleuths the biggest hint he could.

The Hearts forward has been linked with a move across the M8 in January as Philippe Clement looks to build his Ibrox squad following the success of lifting the Viaplay Cup as the Belgian banked his first piece of Rangers silverware. And the Light Blues beat the Jambos to book their place at the showpiece Hampden final against Aberdeen in the process.

Steven Naismith will be desperate to keep hold of his 13-goal talisman come the January window, and talks are underway over a new deal. But the 28-year-old has set the transfer rumours alight as fans spotted he had 'liked' an official post congratulating Gers on their cup win. Shankland's official social media account was among the likes on the SPFL's official page on Instagram.

And that's sent Rangers fans in to a frenzy, with Ibrox punters already convinced something was afoot when Clement made a beeline for the Scotland cap after they won at Tynecastle last month.

But Jambos chief Andrew McKinlay nailed his colours to the mast when quizzed on the forward's future at Hearts' AGM last week. He noted: “There’s a lot of speculation about Lawrence, but I can categorically say that no one – agents or clubs or anyone – has said anything to us about Lawrence leaving in January or has approached us.

“There has been absolutely nothing on the subject. We are totally dealing with conjecture. We are not looking to sell Lawrence in January. If someone comes in with an exceptional bid then we’d have a duty to consider it as a board but it’s been self-evident in the last number of games just how important Lawrence is to the club.

“Hence it would take an incredibly-exceptional deal for us to even