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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Gavin Berry

Rangers 'couldn't afford' Lawrence Shankland as Joe Savage insists striker at Hearts for long haul

Hearts sporting director Joe Savage claimed Rangers “couldn’t afford” Hearts hitman Lawrence Shankland as he issued a hands-off warning over the Tynecastle striker he insists will go down in Gorgie folklore.

The 27-year-old has hit the 20-goal mark this season - the first Jambos frontman to do that since legendary marksman John Robertson 31 years ago - and that had seen him linked with a potential move away. Former Ibrox star Brian Laudrup floated the idea of a move to Rangers, writing in his Daily Mail column on transfer deadline day.

But the window shut with in-form Shankland, who has a contract with Hearts until 2025 after signing at the start of the season in a six-figure move from Belgian side Beerschot, and recruitment chief Savage responded to speculation of a move to Rangers - who face Shankland and Hearts on Wednesday night - during an interview with BBC Scotland.

(SNS Group)

He said: "They wouldn't be able to afford him! I can tell you that right now. Not a chance. No price, he's not for sale. Shanks is not going anywhere. Shanks is going to get 30-odd goals for us this season and become an absolute Hearts legend, that's the plan!”

Laudrup had said: “I’m interested in the idea of how the 27-year-old might handle a step into the Old Firm environment if the opportunity arose in the future. It’s all hypothetical, of course. But I see a lot to like about Shankland and evidence he could go on even further in his career.”

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