Rangers keen to sign Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland in a quick transfer

Scotland striker is a wanted man ahead of the World Cup

Rangers are keen to sign Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland this summer and are pushing to take him to Ibrox as soon as possible. Tynecastle officials do not want to lose their top goalscorer, who is contracted for another two years, particularly to a rival club in Scotland. However, Shankland is in advanced talks about moving to Glasgow.

Rangers passed up the chance to sign Shankland as a free agent last year when he was out of contract, but they are now aiming to sign him for nothing. They believe a release clause in his contract allows him to leave Hearts this summer, although the Gorgie club will want a fee for one of their key men. A three-year deal is on offer from Rangers and the player could make the move as early as this week after returning from holiday.

Shankland’s Hearts contract expired last summer but he eventually signed a three-year deal to remain in Edinburgh after months of negotiations. He went on to score 21 goals for club and country this season. His performances captured the attention of Rangers head coach Danny Rohl, who is eager to bring the player to Ibrox.

The German knows he needs to strengthen his squad for next season after finishing third in this season’s Premiership. He wants Shankland to lead his forward line for season 2026/27. Hearts do not want the 30-year-old to leave with Champions League qualifying matches looming in July. They are also keen to mount another title challenge after finishing just two points off first place this term.

The Edinburgh club came second in this season’s Premiership after missing out on the title in a dramatic and controversial final-day decider against Celtic last weekend. They are determined to build on that progress and aim to compete at the top of the table again next term. Shankland would be a huge part of that aspiration, but he has long been attracted by the chance to move to Ibrox.

Rangers would like a quick deal with Shankland starting World Cup preparations with Scotland this week, and talks are progressing rapidly. Hearts have tried to keep their captain in the Capital and will want to avoid another drawn-out saga following events 12 months ago.

Shankland joined Hearts in summer 2022 from the Belgian club Beerschot and quickly became the most prolific No.9 Tynecastle had seen in decades. He has scored 88 goals in 171 competitive games in maroon over the last four seasons and became the first Hearts striker to score more than 20 goals in a campaign since John Robertson.

Tynecastle officials are preparing for changes to the squad this summer with several players out of contract, including Cammy Devlin, Beni Baningime, Frankie Kent, Craig Gordon and Alan Forrest. St Johnstone winger Josh McPake has signed a pre-contract to join Hearts for next season, and French midfielder Tom Renaud has committed his future to the club.

Hearts are keen to sign defenders MJ Kamson-Kamara and Malachi Fagan-Walcott from Lincoln City and York City respectively. They are also interested in the Falkirk winger Calvin Miller as a player who could provide additional creativity in the final third. Should a transfer for Shankland materialise, there would need to be a replacement for the 30-year-old to reinforce the forward line for next season.