It wouldn’t make sense to do a deal for more than roughly £2 million, the journalist stated on the Rangers Review Morning Briefing on December 19. However, it is unlikely that the Jambos would want to lose their top player for that kind of money.
Jack asserts that even though the Light Blues need goal scoring assistance in January, they just “won’t be at that particular negotiating table” if the score is higher.
“There’s also a sense that Rangers have missed the boat on him,” Jack remarked (4 minutes, 15 seconds). Over the past few seasons, he has entered the market a few times. One of those that, had the Rangers not made a move for him at the appropriate moment, could have happened.
“Here, everything boils down to Hearts’ requirements. Rangers should proceed if Hearts are able to sell for £2 million. That would be fantastic.
“Unfortunately, I just don’t see it happening. Why would you sell such a valuable talent for £2 million if you’re the Hearts? Rangers won’t be at that particular negotiation table if it approaches £5 million.
“He won’t play for Rangers for £5 million; that’s just not happening. Fair play to Hearts if they are able to acquire Lawrence Shankland for that amount. I wish him and them all the best.”
Superior
Rangers should definitely sign Hearts for a modest sum, but considering the importance of the current season, it could be premature to rule out a more costly transaction as well.
While it is true that the club must consider the player trading model for the long-term health of their finances, it doesn’t seem excessive to suggest that Shankland could be the key to the SPFL title race given that they have already secured one third of a potential treble this season.
On paper, his goals would make a revived Rangers team a different possibility domestically, but perhaps £5m would be stretching it either way.
Had somewhere in the region of £13m not already been spent on Danilo, 24, Cyriel Dessers, 29, and Sam Lammers, 26, in the summer, with little prospect of resale value on the latter two, then there would be a strong argument to spend big on Shankland to ensure Philippe Clement can build on the League Cup victory and the opportunity afforded by Celtic’s latest slip-up.
Whether the prospect of further silverware this season, and even the potential for a hugely successful one that looked a million miles off just a matter of weeks ago, would see a big-money Shankland deal pay for itself is a balance the hierarchy have to strike.
Hearts surely aren’t going to gift-wrap their captain and send him off to Ibrox, and yet if it isn’t the Scotland international in January then Rangers are still likely going to need to spend on someone, and the summer haul has proven that taking a risk on unproven options can backfire badly.
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