'Foregone Conclusion' - Ex-Hearts ace expects Shankland to sign for 'Massive' Rangers after game today

Lawrence Shankland will end up leaving Hearts for Rangers after the two sides meet at Tynecastle, says Ryan Stevenson.

The former Jambos midfielder admitted in his Daily Record column on 2 August that he expects the striker to feature for his current club in the season opener the following day but a strong performance would make a bid, and likely a move, a “foregone conclusion”.

Stevenson is the latest pundit to suggest the Light Blues should have signed the star striker in January as it would have won them the league, but now expects the Scotland international to head to his “number one” destination and play for the club he supports sooner rather than later.

He said: “To be totally honest, I’m still a bit of a Debbie Downer just because I think Lawrence Shankland will end up going. Just with everything that’s been said the last week or so, I don’t know if Hearts have got anybody else in the pipeline and it gives me the fear.

“I would imagine he’ll play on Saturday and continue to do what he’s been doing for us, which is score goals. But I think they only place he’ll want to go is Rangers. I think Rangers are backed into a corner now with everything that has been going on…

“For Hearts, they’re stuck in a bad place with it because from the player’s point of view, I understand. He supports Rangers, they’re a massive club and it’s a progression in size of club.”

Rangers could sign Jambos star after Tynecastle clash

If the Gers are going to make good on the months of links to a deal for Shankland there was very little chance Steven Naismith’s side would have let it happen before the two sides meet to kick off the new Scottish Premiership campaign.

Philippe Clement is believed to have had reservations over the Scot’s suitability to press from the front [Rangers Review, 24 July].

But Keith Jackson has been reporting in the Daily Record (29 July) that the Belgian has warmed to the prospect after losing out on league and cup last term, and the sale of Sam Lammers had prompted the Ibrox hierarchy to make clear he could pursue a move if he wanted it.

Whether the signing of Robin Propper has altered that stance remains to be seen but with the Dutch defender snapped up thanks to an expiring clause in his FC Twente deal against his former club’s will it seems more likely the cash from Connor Goldson’s exit to Aris Limassol would have accounted for that move.

It is very tempting to feel that if a move for Shankland was on the cards it would have been done long ago, but it could be that the curtain-raiser was the sticking point during the current window.

And if those on the Edinburgh side of the matter are now believing it is likely then maybe there is more to it than simple speculation.

But with less than a month until the market shuts and a matter of hours until the two sides face off the answer is closing in one way or another.

In other Rangers news, a new Light Blues signing during the transfer window has already been blasted as “extremely poor”.

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