View: Rangers given Shankland boost as new candidate named for Ibrox top job

Rangers may have received a welcome boost in their long-running pursuit of Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland amid news from Ibrox in the past 24 hours.

According to the Daily Record [23 June], the Gers are looking at Andrew McKinlay as an option to succeed James Bisgrove as chief executive.

McKinlay is currently working in the same role at Scottish Premiership rivals Hearts, where Shankland is also plying his trade.

Shankland has long been linked with a switch to Ibrox, not least in January when intense rumours swirled of a possible transfer being on.

A move did not happen, but the Scotland international now has just 12 months to run on his contract at Tynecastle.

Hearts may be forced into Lawrence Shankland sale

Hearts will therefore be more open to negotiating a fee for the prolific marksman, knowing that he will leave for nothing in a year’s time.

If McKinlay is indeed appointed by the Gers, that can only be a positive in their pursuit of Shankland.

Not only is there a natural link there with McKinlay in place, he will also know better than anyone how much Hearts really want for the striker.

Indeed, McKinlay would likely have been the one Rangers were negotiating with in regards to Shankland in previous windows.

Just how much interest the Light Blues have in the 28-year-old this summer is unclear, but it makes perfect sense to go all out to sign him.

Shankland is a proven player at this level and will score goals galore in a Rangers kit.

The Gers must be praised for their smart business this far this summer, but landing Shankland’s signature really would be a signal of intent.

And if McKinlay arrives at Ibrox, Rangers will be one step closer to doing exactly that.

In other Rangers news, the club are close to making their fifth signing of the summer.

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