Lawrence Shankland to Rangers transfer given short shrift as Hearts chief places ‘exceptional’ fee on striker

Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay has told Rangers or any other transfer suitor they would need to make an “exceptional” bid to land Lawrence Shankland in next month’s transfer window.

The Scotland striker has been heavily linked with a move to his boyhood heroes, who are in the market for a forward in January with Philippe Clement in desperate need of more firepower. Danilo is out injured for months while big-money signings Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers have failed to hit the heights demanded at Ibrox.

Shankland is in demand and is out of contract in the summer of 2025. Pundits such as Lee McCulloch have stated he believes Rangers could land the hitman for as little as £1million. But McKinlay – speaking at Hearts’ AGM – has seemingly blown that valuation out the water. He also revealed there has yet to be any contact from anyone over a move for the 28-year-old.

McKinlay said: “We are not looking to sell Lawrence in January. Given his obvious importance to the team it would take an exceptional bid for us to even consider it. We have no need as a club to sell players.

“We have had no contract from anyone, any club, any agent, his agent or any other agent to suggest anyone is going to bid for Lawrence in January.”