Latest news with #HeartofMidlothian
BBC News
18 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Should Hearts' Shankland stay or should he go?
Heart of Midlothian travel to Spain for a pre-season training camp this weekend, just over two weeks out from their opening match of the new season against Dunfermline Athletic on 12 the travelling group, one name is conspicuous by its absence, that of talismanic striker Lawrence Shankland, whose contract with the club expires at the end of this month. Since Hearts brought Shankland back to Scotland in 2022, he has established himself as one of the most reliable goalscorers in Scotland's top has scored 68 goals in Hearts colours in 137 appearances across all competitions. There's an old adage about good strikers scoring one in two - and Shankland does that. That form, along with Shankland's contract situation, explains the long-standing speculation over the Scotland international. A mooted move to Rangers never transpired and links to West Bromwich Albion appear to have gone Hearts head coach Derek McInnes has made no secret of his desire to keep Shankland in Gorgie and tie him down to a new deal, with conversations between player and club is rife among Hearts supporters after Brighton and Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom completed a £9.86m deal to buy a 29% stake in the Edinburgh will Shankland hold out for a move to England or back overseas? Or will he want to be part of Bloom's "disruption" and lead the line in maroon again next season? Hearts can offer 'security' & ambition The fact that Shankland has not made it clear he is leaving is cause for optimism for both McInnes and Hearts is evidently and understandably excited at the prospect of working with the 29-year-old, but will Shankland sign on the dotted line to link up with the club's new team boss?Hearts will hope the chance to be part of their new project, with tried-and-tested performer McInnes in the dugout and Bloom's gravitas in the boardroom, is enough to persuade their star uncertainty over Shankland's future has been clouded further still as McInnes heads to Spain without him."I really feel Lawrence as part of a strong Hearts team can elevate himself," McInnes said earlier this week. "I think he's capable of scoring 25-30 goals a season in the right team and used in the right way."We can offer security. We can offer building a team and being part of a team that's trying to be successful."With Bloom aiming to "disrupt the pattern of domination which has been in place for far too long" in Scottish football, there is an expectation Hearts will attack the transfer Christian Borchgrevink, winger Alexandros Kyziridis, striker Claudio Braga, centre-half Stuart Findlay and midfielder Oisin McEntee have already signed in the early knockings of the window, while Elton Kabangu joined permanently after last season's loan the ambition of the McInnes-Bloom project, the prospect of playing under the immediate gaze of Scotland head coach Steve Clarke would be another perk of staying in Edinburgh for Shankland. Why do Hearts want to keep him? One word. Goals."When you get the ball into dangerous areas, Lawrence Shankland will score," former Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart said on Sportscene at the end of last season."A guy that is capable of banging in 20-plus goals a season doesn't grow on trees."Stewart is right. Shankland has passed the 20-goal mark in the Premiership twice in the past three seasons - no other player has done Furuhashi did it once for Celtic, Cyriel Dessers once for Rangers and Kevin van Veen once for Motherwell. Beyond that, Shankland brings experience and leadership, having captained Hearts during goalkeeper Craig Gordon's long injury has amassed more than 150 Premiership appearances in addition to 16 Scotland caps. Shankland 'looking to maximise earning potential' Had Shankland's contract expired 12 months prior, the suitors would have been piling up to sign him on a free given his goal-scoring feats in the 2023-24 season, during which he bagged 31 goals in all season just gone was less prolific and, as he approaches 30, Shankland is likely considering how many high-profile moves or high-paying contracts he has left in his career."He's at a stage in his career where he's looking to maximise his earning potential, which is completely understandable," Stewart explains why Hearts are yet to hear from him regarding the offer on the no deal has been done, suggesting any alternative offers received by Shankland were not to his liking. With pre-season about to get under way, things will come to a head in the coming Naismith, who was Hearts boss during Shankland's free-scoring 2023-24 season, added: "Like any player, there are more options when you're out of contract."It gives you a chance to sit and think what's best for you at this stage in your career, but he'll want it sorted before pre-season starts."
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shankland omitted from Hearts' Spanish training camp
Lawrence Shankland has been omitted from Heart of Midlothian's 28-man squad for their pre-season training camp in Spain. The 29-year-old Scotland striker is out of contract with the Scottish Premiership club but has been in talks about a new deal. Advertisement New head coach Derek McInnes said earlier this week that he hoped to speak to Shankland again on Tuesday and receive some "clarity" over Shankland's future "in the coming days". McInnes indicated that Hearts were hopeful of retaining the striker's services, especially as he had not indicated he was leaving Tynecastle. Hearts this week completed a £9.86m deal with Tony Bloom for the Brighton and Hove Albion owner to buy a 29% stake in the Edinburgh club. The Tynecastle club already had a formal relationship with Bloom's company Jamestown Analytics for recruitment. Shankland, who has 16 Scotland caps, joined Hearts from Belgian club Beerschot in 2022.
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Billionaire Brighton owner Tony Bloom buys stake in Scottish soccer club Hearts
Brighton soccer club's billionaire owner, Tony Bloom, invested in Heart of Midlothian of the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday, aiming to revive another unheralded team. The former professional poker player is seen as one of the smartest investors in European soccer, helping lift his hometown club, Brighton, and current Belgian champion, Union Saint-Gilloise, to unexpected success with data-driven research and management. Hearts said Bloom paid 9.86 million pounds (13.4 million) for a 29 percent stake in the club in non-voting shares. The size of Bloom's minority stake should be within the UEFA-set threshold to comply with rules designed to protect the integrity of European competitions when clubs in shared ownership both qualify. UEFA required Bloom to reduce his stake and decision-making influence at Union in 2023 when the club from Brussels joined Brighton in qualifying for the second-tier Europa League. Union won its first Belgian league title in 90 years this season and will make its debut in the Champions League main phase. Brighton missed qualifying for UEFA competitions by one place, finishing eighth in the Premier League. Hearts played in the third-tier Conference League last season but did not qualify for any European competition next season after placing seventh in the Scottish league. The Edinburgh club won the last of its four titles in 1960 in a league now monopolized by Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers. They have combined to win the last 40 titles. 'I am absolutely thrilled to be investing in Hearts,' Bloom said in a club statement. 'I firmly believe in the club's ability to disrupt the pattern of domination of Scottish football, which has been in place for far too long.' Hearts has been runner-up five times since 1960, most famously in 1986 after leading the standings for months. Hearts lost on the last day by conceding two late goals at Dundee and was overtaken by Celtic.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Billionaire Brighton owner Tony Bloom buys stake in Scottish soccer club Hearts
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Brighton soccer club's billionaire owner Tony Bloom invested in Heart of Midlothian of the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday, aiming to revive another unheralded team. The former professional poker player is seen as one of the smartest investors in European soccer helping lift his hometown club Brighton and current Belgian champion Union Saint-Gilloise to unexpected success with data-driven research and management. Hearts said Bloom paid 9.86 million pounds ($13.4 million) for 'a 29% stake in the club in non-voting shares.' The size of Bloom's minority stake should be within the UEFA-set threshold to comply with rules designed to protect the integrity of European competitions when clubs in shared ownership both qualify. UEFA required Bloom to reduce his stake and decision-making influence at Union in 2023 when the club from Brussels joined Brighton in qualifying for the second-tier Europa League. Union won its first Belgian league title in 90 years this season and will make its debut in the Champions League main phase. Brighton missed qualifying for UEFA competitions by one place finishing eighth in the Premier League. Hearts played in the third-tier Conference League last season but did not qualify for any European competition next season after placing seventh in the Scottish league. The Edinburgh club won the last of its four titles in 1960 in a league now monopolized by Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers. They have combined to win the last 40 titles. 'I am absolutely thrilled to be investing in Hearts,' Bloom said in a club statement. 'I firmly believe in the club's ability to disrupt the pattern of domination of Scottish football which has been in place for far too long.' Hearts has been runner-up five times since 1960, most famously in 1986 after leading the standings for months. Hearts lost on the last day by conceding two late goals at Dundee and was overtaken by Celtic. ___ AP soccer:
The National
6 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Steven Naismith bangs drum for Shankland to Rangers move
The former Heart of Midlothian manager contributed to 63 goals across a five-year spell at Ibrox. Naismith worked with Shankland at Tynecastle and thinks he would fit seamlessly into life in Govan and could play a similar role for Russell Martin as Kris Boyd did under the great Walter Smith. "In one respect, I'm surprised [Rangers haven't made a move for Shankland]," he said. "I'm surprised because I think he's as safe a bet as you're going to get to scoring goals in Scotland. I think what goes against him is probably his mobility and people looking at him. But for me, he's a really intelligent player now. Read more: "He's a good link between midfield and attack as well as a goal scorer. The other dynamic which I think would probably come into any thought of signing him is his age. "He's somebody who's probably seen in and around his prime. I've seen it with Kris Boyd at Rangers, who was probably similar in terms of their goal return. Walter Smith never played him in Europe and never played him in Old Firms. "But Walter Smith was a manager with loads of experience and knew how to handle him. Now I'm not saying Shanks is like-for-like but those are the kind of challenges that you have to think [about]. "I know in one respect it's on a free transfer. But I'm sure Shanks will definitely have some offers because for two seasons he's been unbelievable. "He's really intelligent. Where he picks positions up, his touch. He's got a real finesse about his touch. And then he's got that calmness in the final third that makes him different. "So, I definitely think he could fit in. He fits a lot of the criteria." Shankland has scored 40 goals in his previous two seasons at Hearts. Currently out of contract, it remains to be seen where his future lies. The centre-forward is more than familiar with Rangers and having a key core of players who understand the club, its values, and the unrelenting demand for success, is crucial, according to Naismith. "If you look at the most successful Celtic and Rangers teams, they've had a core group of British players, players that have grown up with an affiliation," he added. "You cannot underestimate how valuable that is. And that's not just guys that start every week. That's guys within the squad that will do anything to be part of the squad. And they might just be coming in as squad players, but a lot of the guys grab the opportunity and take it."
