Lawrence Shankland has set his sights on winning trophies with Rangers after completing his move to Ibrox. The striker had been available in a cut-price deal after Rangers triggered a clause in his contract with Hearts. Rangers last night described it as an ‘undisclosed fee’ after Shankland signed a two-year contract, with the option of a third.
Shankland's Ambition
The 30-year-old striker, who cut short his summer holiday to fly home and finalise the deal, will now link up with the Scotland squad ahead of the World Cup. ‘I am delighted to be here and to have this opportunity, it feels like it’s been a long time coming,’ said Shankland, who will wear the No 7 jersey. ‘I will always be grateful to Hearts and the opportunity they gave me. I had four great years of my career there. I am glad I’ve left it on good terms there.’
Shankland added: ‘Rangers is my boyhood club and it has always been a dream to play here, so I was really keen to get it done. A lot of hard graft has gone in to get to this point. I’m just really happy. The club are in a position where they want to get back to winning silverware more regularly, and I want to be a big part of that, so that’s what I have come here to do.’
Early Setbacks
Reflecting on his release from Rangers as a child, Shankland said: ‘Being a Glasgow boy, you come from normality really, working-class people, and obviously you get that resilience built into you from an early age. So I think I’ve always naturally had it. I’ve always wanted to be a footballer, but you get knocks along the way. Rangers was actually one of them when I was really young. I got released from here when I was kind of on trial for a long time. But those are the things that mould you for the future. You get those learning experiences and build that resilience. I’ve always kept that. I’m delighted to be here to stay this time.’
Proven Quality
Shankland had consistently been linked with Rangers over the past two or three years, only to be overlooked by various managers. A former PFA Scotland Player of the Year, he has been outstanding for Hearts over recent seasons. As club captain, he almost led the Tynecastle club to their first league title in 66 years, only to be pipped by Celtic on the final day.
Rangers have prioritised signing a core of players with proven experience in Scotland during this summer’s transfer window, with Dundee defender Luke Graham another being closely monitored. The capture of Shankland from one of their main title rivals is a huge statement of intent for Danny Rohl’s side.
Manager's Praise
Rohl is keen to add more leaders to his squad and, beyond his goalscoring prowess, Shankland ticks all of the necessary boxes as a former captain of Hearts. ‘We are delighted to have Lawrence join Rangers,’ said Rohl. ‘He is a player with proven quality, leadership and work ethic, and his goalscoring record in Scotland speaks for itself. He understands the demands and expectations that come with playing for Rangers, and we believe his character and experience will be a huge asset for the group. I wish him well at the World Cup this summer and look forward to welcoming him back to Glasgow during pre-season.’
