Lawrence Shankland to Rangers branded ‘overdue’ in passionate Ally McCoist verdict

Lawrence Shankland to Rangers was announced on Tuesday, as Hearts lost their captain to the Glasgow team.

It is a move that has gotten some backlash from fans of the Tynecastle side, with some labelling their ex-captain a ‘snake’ for choosing to play his football at Ibrox instead.

Yet, Gers supporters are mostly delighted with securing their man. He has signed a two-year deal with the option for a third in Glasgow, and it is rumoured that he will be given the armband despite his just arriving.

Rangers legend Ally McCoist has given his thoughts on the signing of Shankland, and he couldn’t be happier, although he wishes it had been done sooner. He said:

That’s the word I would use [overdue]. Rightly or wrongly, if they’d gone and got him in the January window 18 months or two years ago, they’d have won that league. But it’s a great signing, and he’s been terrific for Hearts. He’s the best finisher in the country, and he might be Scotland’s most natural finisher. The best finisher in the country since Kris Boyd, I would suggest. He’s gone to his boyhood club and I read the statement he made about leaving Hearts the other day and I thought it was very, very well written and very appreciative of the time he had there.

It has been a great month for Shankland as he was also named in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad that will travel to the World Cup. Playing for his boyhood club and representing his country is a great end to a season where his former side took Celtic down to the final day in the Scottish Premiership, and he’ll be hoping that he can help Rangers stay in the title race next season.

Despite the deal finally getting over the line after being desired by fans for years, some have expressed their disappointment in the fact that this wasn’t done sooner. It is rumoured that the Gers paid a fee in the region of £3 million to get him out of his contract with the Jambos, when they could have had him on a free transfer last season, and probably would’ve had a better chance at the league title had they gone for him.

It is also rumoured that they may have managed to get him for nothing because of a clause in his contract. Their announcement post stated that he came for an ‘undisclosed fee’ however, indicating that there was some money given to Hearts.