Steven Naismith delivers Hearts a Shankland reality check but tells striker 'you could be a LEGEND'

Steven Naismith insists Hearts will strive to keep Lawrence Shankland – but admits if the striker decides to leave Tynecastle it could be the right move for him.

The Jambos have offered their captain – linked with Rangers – a new deal that would make him the best paid player at the club in the last decade. Shankland still has 18 months on his current contract and boss Naismith said: “We will do all we can to keep Shanks. Everybody here loves him. Everybody wants him to stay.

“He is bordering on being a legend at the moment and I think he will be by the end of this season. But he could be more. On the flip side, and this is the truth, Shanks is 28 and playing the best football of his career. He has got a decision to make. For any player in the world, moving on a free transfer brings opportunities that might not be there if someone is buying you.

“Ultimately Shanks will decide. The best option might be to stay at Hearts, but it might not be.”

Naismith admits the fans need to appreciate the hitman while he is still wearing a maroon jersey. He added: “We don’t need to sell him, so he is guaranteed 18 months if we really want him for 18 months. We need to enjoy him, we need to use him and be as successful as we can be with him.

“He can break goal records here – I don’t think his goalscoring has ever been as good. His form, that has a value in itself.”