Rangers in advanced talks to sign lifelong fan from rivals ahead of World Cup

Rangers are close to signing Lawrence Shankland from Scottish Premiership rivals Hearts, talkSPORT understands.

Shankland has a clause in his contract which means he can leave, provided an agreement is reached.

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He only signed a fresh three-year deal with Hearts in June 2025 to extend his stay, but he is now nearing a switch to Ibrox.

And the striker’s transfer may well be hurried through, with those involved in negotiations wanting the deal done this week.

It means Shankland is likely to get his move to his boyhood club before he travels to the 2026 World Cup.

The 30-year-old is in the Scotland squad for the tournament and he is expected to be a Rangers player before travelling.

Emotional exit

Shankland is set to depart Hearts after a memorable campaign that saw his side almost win the Scottish Premiership title.

The Jam Tarts just needed to avoid defeat against Celtic on the final day to end their 66-year wait for a title.

But they were beaten 3-1 in a controversial game, leaving players in tears as their fans chanted for them despite defeat.

Shankland scored in that clash, which saw Celtic win the title, but now he’ll be challenging the champions playing for their bitter rivals.

He finished the campaign with 16 league goals in total, seeing him sit third in the top scorers leaderboard this season.

The forward scored more goals than any Rangers player, with Youssef Chermiti just behind him on 15.

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Seeking more Scots

Rangers not only want Shankland at the club for his guaranteed goals, but they’re also eyeing Scottish stars.

Chairman Andrew Cavenagh revealed last week that Scots are preferred to other nationals if they are torn between options.

“We have a pro-Scottish bias in the club today,” Cavenagh said.

“Meaning, if you have two players roughly equal and one is Scottish, then we will take the Scottish player.”

Shankland will be representing his country at the World Cup this summer, having been called up by Steve Clarke.

He has made 19 senior caps for the Tartan Army to date, but he’s sure to add to that in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

Scotland face Haiti in their first match of the tournament on June 14, live on talkSPORT, before taking on Morocco on June 19.

Clarke’s men then come up against star-studded Brazil in their last Group C fixture on June 24.