Hearts send out Lawrence Shankland statement as Ibrox vultures hover

Philippe Clement has been warned that it will take an exceptional bid for Hearts to part with Lawrence Shankland.

Originating from fan media and picked up by the Mainstream there has been a growing speculation that the Scotland striker should move to his spiritual home next. month.

During the summer a fee of around £3m could probably have secured Shankland, giving Hearts a very healthy profit on the £500,000 spent on a player signed from Beerschot in the summer of 2022.

Micky Beale splashed out £14m on Danilo, Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers during the summer while Shankland lurched along the M8 at Tynecastle.

After last week’s 1-0 win over Hearts Clement saved a special hug for Shankland, at today’s Hearts AGM Andrew McKinlay was asked directly if the striker would be sold with The Sun reporting the Jambos CEO saying:

I’m delighted you asked that so I can give this answer. We are not looking to sell Lawrence Shankland.

Given his obvious importance to the team, it would take an exceptional bid for us to even consider it.

We have no need to sell players and would only do so if we receive a valuation we feel is appropriate.

We have had no contact from any club or agent to suggest anyone is going to bid for Lawrence in January.

With Danilo out injured for four months the pressure is on the Ibrox board to provide Clement with a January striker, as things stand the new Ibrox boss has to chose between Kemar Roofe and Dessers in the upcoming fixtures.