Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Ewan Paton

Hearts preparing to offer captain Lawrence Shankland a new contract

Hearts are preparing to offer Lawrence Shankland a new contract.

The 28-year-old is attracting interest from several clubs across the UK and further afield with his form taking him to the top of the Premiership's scoring charts with 11 goals.

The Scotland international has just 18 months remaining on his current deal, which expires in the summer of 2025.

However, it's understood the Tynecastle club will look to extend that by offering him fresh terms. No timescale has been provided on when these negotiations will take place.

Both Rangers and Celtic have been linked with the Jambos frontman, while teams in the English Championship and Saudi Pro League have also taken an interest.

Shankland scored a dramatic late winner in the Edinburgh derby last night as Steven Naismith's side inflicted a 1-0 defeat on Hibernian at Easter Road. The striker also missed a penalty in the early stages of the game.

Naismith insists should Shankland be sold, then that's football

"That’s part and parcel of football,” he said. “I would want to get to a point where if a player leaves or you get a bad injury, you have a list there you can comfortably go at.

“We had it with Josh Ginnelly in the summer, who was a big part of last season for me. He moved on and we had to make different signings. When players go out of the team it creates an opportunity for someone else.

“I was at Kilmarnock when Kris Boyd scored all our goals. He went to Rangers in the January and everybody’s saying ‘what’s going to happen now?’ But me and Colin Nish stepped up and scored goals.

“It happens at every club. No matter who leaves, an opportunity arises for someone else."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.