Scotland international playing ‘poker’ over future as Rangers warned about wage demands

But over the last few weeks, the resurgence of Brazilian striker Danilo and the emergence of Moroccan talent Hamza Igamane has changed the transfer landscape at Ibrox.

Yet that won’t stop the name Lawrence Shankland being bandied about Govan as the Hearts hitman finally finds his shooting boots this season.

Lawrence Shankland ends baron Hearts run

Much of Hearts’ disastrous campaign can be put down to an over-reliance on Lawrence Shankland to do the business in Edinburgh.

It’s fair enough in many respects; Shankland was last season’s top scorer in Scotland (31) and was named Scottish football’s Player of the Year.

But this season, with Shankland in the final year of his Jambos contract no less, the striker has struggled to find his shooting boots and as a result Hearts find themselves toiling at Tynecastle.

That was until Lawrence Shankland burst back onto the scene this weekend.

The Scotland international striker, 29, has had to bide his time this season and finally the damn burst as Hearts welcomed Dundee to Gorgie.

Lawrence Shankland scored both goals in this weekend’s 2-0 win over Dundee, effectively tripling his return in what’s been a largely baron season.

It’s also the striker’s first goals since the end of September, and just in time for the January transfer window too.

Hearts playing ‘poker’ over Lawrence Shankland contract

Whether talk of Lawrence Shankland’s demise has been premature or not will become clear in the next few weeks at Hearts.

The Jambos need the hitman firing if they’re to start climbing up the Scottish Premiership table and if they’re to progress in the Europa Conference League.

Links to Rangers are never far away from Shankland, and whilst January is surely a non starter, the striker’s expiring contract will have plenty at Ibrox asking the question.

Shankland himself has hinted he’s set to leave Hearts with no new offer on the table and the striker about to enter the final six months of his deal.

“Right now, at this moment in time, my contract will be finishing. I won’t have one at Hearts, so that indicates that you move on,” Shankland said in November.

“That’s the situation where we’re at with the club. That’s where we left it. There is no contract on the table.

“That was an agreement we were happy to leave at that point. Both of us accepted it and moved on. That’s where it’s been since then.”

It’s a situation which has caught the eye of BBC Sport journalist Tom English, who claims Lawrence Shankland and Hearts are playing ‘poker’ with regards the striker’s future.

The journalist also suggests that Lawrence Shankland’s wage demands are a sticking point at Hearts, meaning Rangers might have to cough up or the hitman.

”I just find the whole situation fascinating,” English told BBC Sport. “It’s a game of poker now.

”That’s if Shankland continue to score goals. I think it’s a big question for the Hearts board, do they stick or do they twist.

”I know he’s turned down a chunky offer, I think I know the number but I won’t say it.

”Yeah (he would be the top earner at the club). There was a difference between what they were offering and what he was asking for.

”There was a bigger difference again when the Euros came along and Lawrence Shankland was in the squad.

”So they ended up with a big gulf so the offer was taken off the table.

”If he keeps scoring, now bear in mind there’s a few factors in this, there’s no transfer fee but also he’s going to be 30 start of next season.

”That’s another factor but I just find it a fascinating situation around Shankland now if he starts scoring again.”

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