'Honestly...' - Pundit issues 'Massively Valuable' Shankland to Rangers transfer verdict

Lawrence Shankland is “massively valuable” to Hearts and Rangers will not pay what it takes to convince them to sell, says Ryan McGowan.

The Livingston man and former Tynecastle player told PLZ Soccers’ The Football Show on 2 August that he doesn’t expect his former club to give up their star striker despite links to an Ibrox switch.

Daily Record journalist Keith Jackson has recently reported (29 July) that Philippe Clement has warmed to the prospect of signing the Scotland international and has been given the cash to do so, while another former Jambo, Ryan Stevenson, fears it could be a “foregone conclusion” after the sides meet at Tynecastle on the opening day [Daily Record, 2 August].

But McGowan sees it completely differently because the Light Blues can’t afford the Jam Tarts’ asking price, saying of speculation: “I honestly don’t think there’s anything in it” .

Peter Martin noted that Hearts have made it clear how much they value Shankland by offering him a “heck of a bumper deal to stay”, albeit all contract extensions have been rejected, and Alan Rough agreed that the expected £4million fee is “too much” for Rangers.

Tynecastle star out of reach of Philippe Clement at Rangers?

Rough suggested that with less than a year left on his current deal there is no rush for Shankland, and the door is potentially open for a free move next summer.

That is thought to be an element of the reticence at Ibrox to pay big money for the goalscorer despite 59 strikes in two years for Hearts and the player himself being eager to join the Gers [Scottish Daily Mail, 1 July].

But a lot can change in a year and if he gets tired of waiting for the opportunity he might decide to commit the rest of his career to his current club, where he is captain and has never shown any signs of actively agitating to leave.

Rangers are making all the right noises about planning long-term with Clement’s new contract and there is believed to be no plans to sack another manager if the season starts badly [The Herald, 27 July], but there have been rumours of links to the Belgium job and an development like that could alter the landscape [Daily Record, 22 July].

The cash that Hearts are confident they will secure via European qualification thanks to Shankland’s goals is also money he could pay back for Clement in the same manner.

But if there was a major impetus to bring him in there would likely have been some movement before now, unless it is the opening-day meeting at Tynecastle which unlocks everything.

There is logic to buying him and logic to not, but if the latter is the decision there needs to be a very strong alternative plan in place.

Not pushing for him in January is seen by some to have failed as the Light Blues ultimately threw away a hard-fought opportunity to claim the title, and Clement might not be allowed to make the same mistake twice.

In other Rangers news, Clement could still be sacked despite agreeing a new contract extension according to one journalist.

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