Lawrence Shankland swerves Hearts transfer question with loaded 'crystal ball' quip as he resets focus

Death, taxes and Lawrence Shankland sticking the ball in the back of the net are certainties in life

But the Hearts striker admits he will need a crystal ball to know if he is going to be at Tynecastle when the January window slams shuts. Jambos boss Steven Naismith admitted after the weekend’s win over St Mirren that there was already interest in the player.

That was after watching Shankland take his tally for the season to 15 goals with a double against Saints, including a stunning rocket he fired into the top corner. Shankland’s full focus is on downing bitter city rivals Hibs at Easter Road this evening. But long-term the marksman has no idea what the future holds amid ongoing speculation linking him with Rangers. Asked if thinks he will still be a Hearts player come February, Shankland said: “Have you got a crystal ball I can look into?

“Listen, I’ve got a year-and-a-half on my contract, I’m enjoying my football and I’m scoring goals. Speculation follows you when you’re doing well. I don’t see it as anything more than that and I won’t until the future.

“I’ve been through it before. Speculation is just a sign that you are doing well and you are doing your job properly. That’s how I look on it, to be honest. I’m enjoying my football at the minute, things are going well and I don’t need to concentrate on much more than that.”

Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay has already said that it would take an exceptional offer for the club to even consider selling Shankland. That price is expected to be around the £5 million mark but Shankland knows the more goals he scores the more that figure could rise.

He added: “Possibly but that’s way above my pay grade. I don’t deal with that. That’s for the club to deal with.