Rangers’ ongoing striking target Lawrence Shankland has admitted he needs to talk to current employer Hearts over his contract situation this summer, given he will be going into the final year of his deal and there’s the Euros with Scotland coming up too.

Shankland previously dropped hints that Hearts cannot deliver his ambition, and that he wanted to challenge himself effectively at a higher level, but that for now, discussion with his present club has been shelved.

He said:

“We had a conversation and all decided we would re-assess it in the summer. Conversations will probably be had in the summer. I am going into the last year of my contract at Hearts and there’s always speculation kicking around at those times. So there will come a time when conversations will need to be had, but for now everything’s still running smoothly. It’s just noise. I just solely focused on my football. Speculation is a sign you’re doing well at your club.”

That is true, but if we compare this with what James Tavernier said, Shankland is a lot less committed-sounding than Hearts’ captain.

Tavernier talks about the future at Rangers, and while not completely ruling out an exit, comes close to it.

Shankland admits he’ll need to discuss his future with his club soon, and as we said previously, he’s dropped hints that he can’t achieve his ambition with his present team, and needs a bigger platform.

Fact is aged 28 this is his chance for him to get the big move to either a big club (Rangers) or a big league (Championship or slim chance of Premier League).

He’s hit the best form of his career, he’s up for Player of the Year and his stock has never been higher.

It’s no wonder the striker wants to sort things out ASAP, and there’s no denying he’d love it to be Rangers.