Credit: Manh Tung - Breaking Media

Harri Burton

Sat 30 May 2026 15:00, UK

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Lawrence Shankland may still cost Rangers in hidden fees despite arriving on a free transfer from Hearts this summer.

That is according to former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Jambos will be disappointed by their captain’s exit, but it won’t have come as a surprise.

Shankland only put pen to paper on a new three-year deal last summer, having rejected offers from other Scottish Premiership sides for his signature ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

It is believed, however, that a clause was included in his latest contract that allowed him to leave on a free transfer just a year into his new deal, and Rangers have pounced to secure his signature this summer.

Lawrence Shankland may not be totally free for Rangers

Having notched 20 goals and four assists, nearly pushing Hearts to the Scottish Premiership title, it almost seems too good to be true that the Gers have signed him without a price tag attached.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, though, Borson believes there might be some hidden fees involved, which is why the details of the move are being kept behind the scenes.

“They’d have gone in with their eyes open, so, is it a mistake? I think it’s hard to call it a mistake. I think it’s just simply a case of they understood the risk, but decided to do it anyway,” Borson said.

“It’s not a surprise, not a mistake, but disappointing because they’ve lost the player for zero, but you know, there might be some payment in there. But they probably had no choice.

“The clubs aren’t stupid, particularly Hearts these days. With the resources that they have now, especially within the post-Bloom world, they know what they’re doing. They’re not stupid.

“They’ll have weighed up the likelihood of this happening, and they’ll have taken a decision based upon the likelihood of it, and they won’t be surprised by this outcome. They might be disappointed, but they won’t be surprised, and they’ll just have to deal with it.

“I’m sure they wanted to bring in loads of money for him, but, unfortunately, it’s just not the way it’s panned out. But they’ll have done it with their eyes open, which is the key.”

What does this mean for Rangers’ other strikers?

Danny Rohl clearly wants to get deals done early, especially after falling out of the Scottish Premiership title race, allowing their Old Firm rivals, Celtic, to win another league trophy.

Shankland’s deal has already been completed, and Football Insider understands that Bojan Miovski is “unhappy” at Ibrox because of it, seeking an exit after just 12 months back in Scotland.

It would seem like Youssef Chermiti and Ryan Don Naderi are ready to fight for their positions at Ibrox, and the arrival of an experienced centre-forward will only push them to perform better.

Football Insider understands that Rangers could cash in on Chermiti, with the former Everton gem attracting attention from across Europe, but he may feel he has something to prove next term.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.