Lawrence Shankland leaves door open to Hearts exit as Scotland’s Player of the Year makes big deal of summer plans

LAWRENCE SHANKLAND says he has a “duty” to himself to secure the best contract of his career. The Hearts striker was named Player of the Year by PFA Scotland on Sunday night after bagging 29 goals for club and country this season. Kenny RamsayLawrence Shankland has capped an incredible season with the top pro’s award[/caption] Kenny RamsayPFA chief Fraser Wishart did the honours at Sunday’s ceremony[/caption] SNSThe striker also netted the club award after 28-goals – so far – for the Jambos[/caption] Shanks is poised to enter the final year of his Tynecastle deal and revealed he is open to offers to stay, or move south or abroad. But the Gorgie skipper insists it is vital that he is rewarded for the greatest spell of his career — and says Jambos boss Steven Naismith and the club’s board know his feelings. He said: “I have a duty and a responsibility to set myself up. “I feel like I owe that to myself with how hard I have worked in my career. “We all understand the situation. We have had really open conversations about it — Naisy, myself and the club as a whole. “I am still under contract at Hearts and I would never disrespect that position. “I still have ambitions to get to a level. I don’t feel like I have got to that level where I am not good enough. “It would be nice to kick on, see how far I can go in the game, try to play at a higher level than this. “We will see what it brings, but I would never be disrespectful to what I have got at Hearts. “The club have been great for me since I have gone there and have given me a real platform to perform at a high level with a top Scottish club. “I really enjoy it there. If I am there for the next season, then I am more than happy. “But I am coming into a position now where I am going into the last season of my contract and conversations will need to be had at some point.” Asked if his future could lie in England or overseas, Shankland — who turns 29 in August — added: “You want to push on. “Can I get somewhere where I say, ‘Right, that wasn’t good enough?’. GettyShankland earned the Jambos’ armband – but was heavily linked with Rangers in January[/caption] GettyHe moved to Tyencastle from a spell in Belgian football at Beerschot[/caption] AlamyAs a kid he was at Aberdeen before kick-starting his career at Ayr and Dundee United[/caption] “I don’t feel I have experienced that yet. “You could finish your career and have regrets and say, ‘I wish I had tried that and seen if I could play there’. “If you get the chance, you try to go and do it. “There are loads of leagues all over Europe. I have been abroad before. I will see. I would go abroad again. “The people at Hearts want me to progress in my career, as well, and do really well. “The main thing is everybody is on the same page. We will see what the summer brings.” Shankland, who had a short spell in Belgium with Beerschot before signing for Hearts, is certain of a place in Scotland boss Steve Clarke’s squad for this summer’s Euros. He’ll fight Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes for a starting spot against the hosts in the tournament opener in Munich on June 14. And he knows making an impact in Germany could transform his future options. Shanks, who has scored two goals in his nine Scotland caps to date, said: “You never know, if I nick a goal there then everything changes. “But we will go and look forward to that.” Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

May 6, 2024 - 22:00
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Lawrence Shankland leaves door open to Hearts exit as Scotland’s Player of the Year makes big deal of summer plans

LAWRENCE SHANKLAND says he has a “duty” to himself to secure the best contract of his career.

The Hearts striker was named Player of the Year by PFA Scotland on Sunday night after bagging 29 goals for club and country this season.

Kenny Ramsay
Lawrence Shankland has capped an incredible season with the top pro’s award[/caption]
Kenny Ramsay
PFA chief Fraser Wishart did the honours at Sunday’s ceremony[/caption]
SNS
The striker also netted the club award after 28-goals – so far – for the Jambos[/caption]

Shanks is poised to enter the final year of his Tynecastle deal and revealed he is open to offers to stay, or move south or abroad.

But the Gorgie skipper insists it is vital that he is rewarded for the greatest spell of his career — and says Jambos boss Steven Naismith and the club’s board know his feelings.

He said: “I have a duty and a responsibility to set myself up.

“I feel like I owe that to myself with how hard I have worked in my career.

“We all understand the situation. We have had really open conversations about it — Naisy, myself and the club as a whole.

“I am still under contract at Hearts and I would never disrespect that position.

“I still have ambitions to get to a level. I don’t feel like I have got to that level where I am not good enough.

“It would be nice to kick on, see how far I can go in the game, try to play at a higher level than this.

“We will see what it brings, but I would never be disrespectful to what I have got at Hearts.

“The club have been great for me since I have gone there and have given me a real platform to perform at a high level with a top Scottish club.

“I really enjoy it there. If I am there for the next season, then I am more than happy.

“But I am coming into a position now where I am going into the last season of my contract and conversations will need to be had at some point.”

Asked if his future could lie in England or overseas, Shankland — who turns 29 in August — added: “You want to push on.

“Can I get somewhere where I say, ‘Right, that wasn’t good enough?’.

Getty
Shankland earned the Jambos’ armband – but was heavily linked with Rangers in January[/caption]
Getty
He moved to Tyencastle from a spell in Belgian football at Beerschot[/caption]
Alamy
As a kid he was at Aberdeen before kick-starting his career at Ayr and Dundee United[/caption]

“I don’t feel I have experienced that yet.

“You could finish your career and have regrets and say, ‘I wish I had tried that and seen if I could play there’.

“If you get the chance, you try to go and do it.

“There are loads of leagues all over Europe. I have been abroad before. I will see. I would go abroad again.

“The people at Hearts want me to progress in my career, as well, and do really well.

“The main thing is everybody is on the same page. We will see what the summer brings.”

Shankland, who had a short spell in Belgium with Beerschot before signing for Hearts, is certain of a place in Scotland boss Steve Clarke’s squad for this summer’s Euros.

He’ll fight Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes for a starting spot against the hosts in the tournament opener in Munich on June 14.

And he knows making an impact in Germany could transform his future options.

Shanks, who has scored two goals in his nine Scotland caps to date, said: “You never know, if I nick a goal there then everything changes.

“But we will go and look forward to that.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page