Lawrence Shankland has ‘changed his mind’ on exiting Hearts this summer or indeed joining Rangers by distancing himself strongly from transfer speculation about a departure from Tynecastle.

Speaking before he travels to Germany with the Scotland national side for this summer’s European Championships, the SPFA Player of the Year backtracked on earlier comments he made about effectively needing to leave, and suggested he’s happy in Edinburgh and isn’t interested in noise about his future.

He said:

“Honestly? I see it as noise in the background. If anything, it’s a sign that I’m doing something right. It’s not something I’m hyping up, so I just let it wash over me and concentrate on football. That will always be the priority for me. On top of that, I would never disrespect Hearts. They’ve been great for me, and I like to think I’ve been good for them in return.”

Despite doing exactly that (disrespecting them) a few times already the past few months by discussing his future exit and his ambitions.

Very strange change of mind here.

He went on:

“I’d say so (Settled at Hearts), yeah. I bounced around a little bit. Maybe I jumped at opportunities and experiences. But I do feel at home now and that can only be a good thing for your football. Having babies helps as well, even if it leads to a few sleepless nights!”

At home now?

Sounds like Shankland has been influenced by someone and is now ready to sign a new deal in Edinburgh, with such a staggering 180 on his previous ‘I must talk to Hearts’ and ‘I have big ambition’-type patter.

Suddenly it’s ‘I’m happy here and I won’t disrespect them’.

Call us crazy, but it looks like he’s staying after all, probably promised a better contract and a good salary, despite what he could get elsewhere such as Rangers or on the continent.

Of course if Hearts get the bid they want he’ll probably still be off, but for his part, he seems to have piped down with the exit talk and he’s buttering his employers up a bit more.

Quite the change from him.