Excl: Leading journalist provides update on pursuit of talismanic 31-goal striker is bound to have fans arguing over striker

It’s been suspiciously quiet concerning Rangers and Hearts talisman Lawrence Shankland this summer.

Several bluenoses urged Rangers to complete a deal for the prolific striker in January.

Lawrence Shankland remained with Hearts, and Rangers’ attacking line struggled during the title race.

Valuations of about £5 million were enough to scare any level-headed bluenose off. However, with Shankland entering his final year of his Jambos contract, we surely expected more buzz this summer.

Maybe it’s the European Championships, maybe it’s that Rangers have been extensively linked elsewhere, but as things stand there has been nothing to suggest the forward will move to Ibrox.

Speaking about Shankland’s situation, leading Herald & Times journalist Chris Jack has been talking about how likely the striker is to move to Rangers ahead of the new season.

Journalist talks Rangers & Shankland

While there has been no word on Lawrence Shankland, one thing is certain at Ibrox this summer.

Rangers are looking for additional firepower.

Last season, the Ibrox team struggled in the final third due to a series of catastrophic injuries.

Cyriel Dessers eventually won over the fans, but the striker essentially carried the torch, with Kemar Roofe and Danilo both supporting a very busy physio’s room.

Despite the Rangers’ global transfer quest, Chris Jack believes our small town of Hill and Glen will remain overlooked.

Specifically, the writer does not believe the Rangers will make a bid for Lawrence Shankland, even if he expects the hitman to leave.

“Do I believe Lawrence Shankland would score goals for Rangers? Yes. Should I expect him to sign this summer? “No,” Chris Jack told the Rangers Review.

“Despite all of the talk and speculation in January, there was little to suggest that Rangers would test the Tynecastle board’s resolve.

“At that point, Rangers would have had to pay above the odds, which would not have made financial sense, especially given the outlay on attackers in the summer.

“His goal return speaks for itself but I think Clement would prefer a No.9 in a different mould. There will rightly be interest in Shankland this summer but I don’t expect it to come from Ibrox.”

Rangers transfer hunt continues

While many Rangers fans will continue to want the club to sign Lawrence Shankland, others will argue that we should go elsewhere.

The Scotland international may have scored 31 goals for Hearts last season, but the links to Rangers are far from clear.

The Germans are looking to sign rising talents before developing them into winners and flipping them for large gains in the transfer market.

At 28, we’re not certain the Tynecastle talisman fits the bill.

With links to the likes of Hamza Igamane and Albion Rrahmani more in keeping with the Nils Koppen transfer vision we suspect Shankland won’t be moving to Rangers this summer.

That said, you can never say never and we don’t want to rule anything out.

Especially when Shankland himself is aiming for a ‘higher level’.