Football analyst Jonny McFarlane has weighed in on the potential cost of acquiring Hearts’ striker Lawrence Shankland this January. McFarlane suggests that a bid of up to £5 million might be necessary for Rangers to secure the Scottish international’s services.
The Light Blues have been on the lookout to bolster their striking options, especially with the recent challenges faced by new signings Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers in consistently finding the net at Ibrox. Shankland has emerged as a recurring name in discussions about a solution to Rangers’ goal-scoring woes.
McFarlane emphasized the financial aspect of the potential deal, stating, “They would certainly not be willing sellers, and any notion that Shankland might be secured for a couple of million is fanciful at best.”
Drawing a parallel with Rangers’ £5 million acquisition of Dessers in the summer, McFarlane casts doubt on the feasibility of a deal unless it falls within that financial ballpark. Even then, Hearts might opt to retain Shankland until the summer, reassessing their options.
However, McFarlane also highlights the risks associated with such a strategy, noting, “This can be a dangerous strategy though. Players tend not to take kindly to dream moves being scuppered.” He speculates that Shankland and his agent could advocate strongly to Hearts, suggesting that if the club values him at such a high fee, they should compensate him accordingly.
As Rangers weigh their options in the January transfer market, the pursuit of Lawrence Shankland presents not only a potential solution to their goal-scoring issues but also a financial challenge that could shape the outcome of this high-stakes negotiation.