Rangers agree deal for Hearts captain Shankland.
Rangers have agreed to sign Heart of Midlothian captain Lawrence Shankland, subject to a physical, which will take place in the coming days.
The Scotland forward has been linked with the Ibrox club and is expected to become Danny Rohl’s first summer signing.
The 30-year-old led Hearts to second place this season, but Celtic won the trophy on the final day. Since joining Hearts in 2022, the forward has 88 goals in 171 games.
He has scored the fourth-most Premier League goals since the league’s inception in 2013, with 77, one behind former Rangers forward Alfredo Morelos.
Shankland has scored 236 goals in 494 club games, including four in 18 Scotland matches.
Shankland joined Hearts in 2022 following a year with Belgian club Beerschot.
He previously played in his native Scotland for Aberdeen and Dundee United in the Premiership, as well as Ayr United and Queen’s Park in the lesser levels.
Aberdeen loaned him out to Dunfermline Athletic, Greenock Morton, and St Mirren.
His most recent Scotland goal came in the World Cup qualification-clinching win over Denmark in November and he is one of five strikers in Steve Clarke’s team for this summer’s finals.
After facing Curacao at Hampden on Saturday, the Scots will head to the United States for a last warm-up game against Bolivia in New Jersey before Group C matches against Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil. The first two games are held in Massachusetts, with the final group game taking place in Florida.
Analysis: Shankland the leader Rangers seek
Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh spoke on Sunday about the club’s need for leaders, particularly Scottish leaders and hardened professionals.
He never mentioned Lawrence Shankland, and almost didn’t need to. The striker embodies everything he described. Rangers don’t lack goals; they outperformed Celtic and Hearts in the Premiership last season – but they do need toughness and presence, which Shankland gives.
It was clear on Friday that things were moving swiftly. It’s not official yet – there’s still a medical to go through – but everything is moving quickly in the correct path from a Rangers standpoint, if not from a Hearts standpoint.
Pending any departures, he would join Youssef Chermiti, Ryan Naderi, Bojan Miovski, and Danilo as Danny Rohl’s front-line possibilities. It’s unlikely that all of them will be Rangers players when the season starts. Shankland, if it is completed, will be the primary man.
People with knowledge of the discussions are being discreet about how much Rangers are paying Hearts for Shankland. Both parties are uncomfortable discussing a rumoured break clause in Shankland’s Hearts contract that would allow him to depart for free, a scenario that would undoubtedly enrage Hearts fans even more.
IMAGE SOURCE, SNSLawrence Shankland could join Rangers as captain James Tavernier leaves Ibrox
Losing their captain and leading scorer is terrible enough, but losing him for little or no money may be considered insult to injury. Currently, the expressions used are ‘undisclosed charge’ and ‘Rangers paid the requisite amount’.
Shankland has a prolific record for Hearts versus Rangers, scoring twice in a 2-0 win at Ibrox in September, as well as the winner in December and May, all at Tynecastle.
He scored against Rangers in a 3-3 draw in May 2024, as well as 3-1 and 2-1 losses in November and October 2023. He is the most prolific scorer Hearts have had since the legendary John Robertson.
Shankland scored 20 goals for Derek McInnes’ squad during a near-perfect season, which he missed due to injury. He’s trying hard to start for Scotland against Haiti in the World Cup opener.
For McInnes, this will be a terrible blow. Shankland and Hearts were at a stalemate at the end of the 2024-25 season, with a long-running salary disagreement between the club and the player’s representation threatening to end his tenure at Tynecastle.
When McInnes was appointed manager, one of his top priorities was to retain Shankland. He was adamant that he needed the striker, and the transaction was completed. McInnes and Shankland have worked well together.
Those days would appear to be over. Shankland to Rangers will take a lot of beating as the signing of the summer.
‘Don’t see how Hearts replace him’
“You are losing your captain, who is important on and off the field.
“One of Hearts’ title competitors is considering acquiring their greatest player. It is a bitter blow. They’ll have to find a way to replace him, and I’m not sure how Hearts will accomplish it.
“They need to find answers, which may include signing two players. They will have to put their money where their mouth is.
Stevenson believes Shankland has the potential to become Rangers’ captain after James Tavernier’s departure after 11 years. “From Rangers’ point of view, what a signing,” he added.
“I believe he would score more goals for Rangers than for Hearts. “If it goes through, it’s a fantastic signing for the Rangers.”
“They need to find answers, which may include signing two players. They will have to put their money where their mouth is.
Stevenson believes Shankland has the potential to become Rangers’ captain after James Tavernier’s departure after 11 years. “From Rangers’ point of view, what a signing,” he added.
“I believe he would score more goals for Rangers than for Hearts. “If it goes through, it’s a fantastic signing for the Rangers.”
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