Graeme Jones has no interest in apologising for the break-clause deal that let L. Shankland leave Heart Of Midlothian for Rangers on a free. The Hearts sporting director says the club made the right calculation last summer because they still got the striker for one season, and that season brought goals, leadership and a runners-up finish.
Why Hearts think the gamble was worth it
The clearest case for Hearts is the output. Shankland scored 20 goals last season, and Jones was blunt about the club’s return. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: "I defy anybody to push back against the fact that it was the correct decision for the club that Derek and I took whereby we had Lawrence for the year. He scored 20-plus goals, his leadership on and off the park was of the highest level."
There is a small wording split in the reporting, with Sky Sports putting the number at 20 goals and BBC Sport using "20-plus goals". The broader point does not change. Hearts got a prolific season out of him before the free exit, and they also kept a player Jones felt drove standards inside the dressing room.
What Rangers are getting
Shankland left Hearts with 88 goals in 171 games, which is a strong return by any measure. Rangers used the release clause to sign him after Hearts were pipped to the Scottish Premiership title by Celtic on the final day, and former Rangers striker Gordon Durie thinks he can help them close the gap. David Templeton went further, saying Shankland has the instincts and scoring sense to suit a side that dominates possession and needs someone who can finish tight games.
That is why the move makes sense from both sides. Hearts protected themselves with a season of value before the clause was triggered, and Rangers get a proven scorer on a free transfer. Jones is also already talking about what comes next for Hearts, saying the team will evolve past players, with new signings coming in this summer.
For Hearts, the debate is not about whether Shankland delivered. It is about whether taking the break clause was the right way to manage the risk, and Jones clearly thinks it was.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
