Lawrence Shankland transfer news: Rangers agree deal to sign Hearts captain | Football News

Rangers are close to finalising a deal for Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland.

Sky Sports News understands the striker will sign an initial two-year deal until the summer of 2028, with an option to extend that by a further 12 months.

The Ibrox club have moved to land the 30-year-old before he departs for the World Cup with Scotland.

Shankland scored 20 goals for Hearts last season, including 16 in the Scottish Premiership, as they missed out on a historic league title on the final day of the season.

Following months of talks, he signed a new three-year deal at Tynecastle Park last summer, while Rangers failed to move for the player who had become a free agent.

However, just 12 months later, the boyhood Rangers fan is set to swap Edinburgh for Glasgow after the Ibrox club took advantage of a clause in his new Hearts deal.

Shankland scored 16 Scottish Premiership goals which has earned Hearts a spot in Champions League qualifying as Rangers finished third under Danny Röhl.

Shankland joined Hearts in 2022 from Belgian club Beerschot and has scored 88 goals in 171 games over the last four seasons. He netted 24 league goals in each of the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.

Shankland’s route from Ibrox stands to squad

Rangers fan Shankland started his career at Queen’s Park alongside Andy Robertson.

His move to Aberdeen in 2013 resulted in loan spells at Dunfermline, St Mirren and Morton, as he looked to make his mark.

It took some time, but that mark was made in 2017. He joined Ayr United as a free agent, on a short-term deal, and scored 29 goals across all competitions in his first season.

During the following season, he struck 34 goals, earning a move to Dundee United, where he fired them back into the top flight with 28 goals in his first season.

Two seasons later and he moved to Belgian club Beerschot where he struggled, as the club were relegated from the top flight.

That led to a return to Scotland as he penned a three-year deal at Hearts and impressed, scoring 24 league goals in his first two seasons.

When his contract ended last summer, there were offers from abroad but not from Ibrox. After months of talks, he opted to stay at Hearts and netted 20 times across all competitions last season, which almost fired the club to league glory.

However, after that season that caught the eye of Rangers chiefs and beyond – the striker who grew up supporting the club is now set to move to Ibrox and undoubtedly become a key player for head coach Röhl.

The leader Rangers need?

The move for Shankland may come as a surprise to some.

After all, just 12 months ago, Rangers failed to sign him when he was out of contract. Bearing in mind some fans even wanted him in the January before to boost a title bid, it seemed like the ‘Shankland to Rangers’ ship had sailed.

However, just a week on from a campaign in which he nearly fired Hearts to their first top-flight title in 66 years, the player has cut his holiday short to move to Glasgow.

On the pitch, it is clear what he can do. Just ask Rangers fans, as he scored four league goals in three games against the Ibrox club during the campaign. However, it is not just his goals that will excite the supporters, but also his leadership skills.

After all, chairman Andrew Cavenagh said the club must sign players who have the right mentality to play for the club after watching them finish third in the league.

The US businessman also wanted recruitment to have an “Scottish Premiership bias” and said Rangers would have “a bias towards Scottish players” too, when it came to this summer.

Well, Shankland hits the nail on the head in every aspect.

He’s a leader, he knows the league, he scores goals, and he is Scottish.

Rangers need a new captain after James Tavernier left at the end of his deal. Could Shankland be the man to fill those boots and fire the club back to winning silverware after another trophyless season?

Who else could Rangers sign amid Graham, Neil interest?

One of Rangers’ targets is Dundee defender Luke Graham. The Ibrox side have watched the 22-year-old impress at Dens Park last season and held initial talks with his representatives.

However, there have been no formal talks between the clubs for the player who also has interest from the English Championship and clubs across Europe and the USA.

Dundee turned down a bid from Portsmouth in January but are braced for more offers this summer.

Graham is training with the Scotland squad this week to help the squad prepare for a warm-up game against Curacao.

Rangers have also spoken to midfielder Dan Neil’s representatives, with the 24-year-old out of contract at Sunderland this summer.

The Ibrox side were keen to sign the player in January who joined Ipswich on loan, and he is back on Rohl’s radar.

However, there is interest from clubs in the Premier League and English Championship and it is thought the player will weigh up his options.

Motherwell’s in-demand midfielder Elliot Watt is also a potential target for Rangers.

However, there have been no talks over a deal with the Fir Park club, who will want to keep the 26-year-old at the club after impressing in his 42 appearances last season.

Kelly set to sign new Rangers deal

Rangers goalkeeper Liam Kelly is in the final stages of agreeing a new two-year deal at the club.

The 30-year-old was due to be out of contract in the summer but is set to extend his stay until 2028.

He made just three appearances for Rangers this season, with Jack Butland head coach Danny Rohl’s No 1.

Despite that, Kelly has secured a spot in Scotland’s 26-man squad heading to the World Cup.

Kelly returned to Ibrox in 2024, having first come through the club’s academy, and also had spells at Livingston, Queens Park Rangers and Motherwell.

Rangers are expected to be busy this summer as Röhl rebuilds his squad after finishing third in the league this season.