You could forgive Hearts fans for already being sick of hearing their main man linked with a move to Glasgow.

Lawrence Shankland has been banging the goals in for the Tynecastle club since arriving 18 months ago, but his last gasp leveller for Scotland in Tbilisi has ramped up the transfer chat. As is the case with the majority of high performing Scottish Premiership stars, the first assumption is that Celtic or Rangers might want to swoop and snap them up. In years gone by, it would be inevitable, even if only to make life easier when it was their turn to play against a troublesome opponent.

It's a little different now. The money on offer from even the second tier in England means the big two up here can't often compete if interest heats up. Now it's a case of getting in early or biding their time to nip in and secure a free transfer when contracts are running down. Scottish clubs though, including the Old Firm (ironically, some might say), are standing their ground and insisting on a better deal for their most sellable assets.

The likes of John McGinn, Kieran Tierney, Calvin Bassey, and Calvin Ramsay have fetched, in relative terms, big money for their respective employers, who refused to jump at the first sniff of a payday to make sure they got the best deal they could. But these were guys with time left on their deals, which meant clubs could afford to be picky.

Nowadays, anyone with less than two years left to run are placed firmly into the "sign them up" camp by punters, who can see what's potentially coming. In Shankland's case, there a few scenarios that could play out - some more likely than others, and definitely more palatable to those of a maroon persuasion. Record Sport looks at the outcomes Hearts and their stand-in skipper are facing, and which ones would suit both parties.

Signs a new Hearts deal

The optimum outcome from a Hearts perspective. There's no question Shankland has earned a new deal on improved terms. He's bagged an incredible 38 goals in 66 appearances. Last term, he became the first Hearts striker to hit 20 in a season since John Robertson and is on course to do it again.

The capital club will know they can't afford to replace Shankland with a like for like striker. Shankland didn't come cheap from Beerschot, and is likely towards the top end of the club's wage scale already. Unless benefactor James Anderson green lights an exceptional financial offer, it will be difficult to better his current deal, at least sufficiently to make signing a no brainer. No doubt conversations will be happening behind the scenes though and Hearts will do everything they possibly can. They have to.

Sold in the summer

Of course, if a player simply decides he doesn't want to sign, there's not much clubs can do, but they can make ti work if they act in time. Wantaway stars will have a very good idea of what's on offer elsewhere and will be realistic enough to realise that unless a rabbit is pulled out the hat, their current employer won't be matching that.

It then becomes a balancing act. Can Hearts sell Shankland for the same money - or more - than his goals could potentially earn them next season? The same equation could apply to January, but that sort of offer midway through the season is less likely to come and Hearts punting their top scorer with half a season still to play not only impacts things on the pitch, it;s a surefire way to infuriate fans. The sensible compromise if he won't sign then, is Shankland sitting tight with the understanding that he can go for a certain amount in the summer.

Destination then comes into play. Hearts will be extremely reluctant to sell to a divisional rival. That of course, means Rangers or Celtic, as no-one else in the cinch can afford him, and it's not even a guarantee the Gers can. Rangers' latest accounts show that they're not exactly flush, especially after Michael Beale spent big on strikers in the summer who so far, don't appear to be able to lace Shankland's boots when it comes to goalscoring.

Celtic do have the cash. Whether Shankland fits their style or system is up for debate. And is the outlay on a player who will revert to being a backup when Kyogo is fit again worth it? It's a deal that doesn't appear to tick a lot of boxes for the champions.

Therefore, a less-than-happy medium for Hearts would be Shankland trying his luck down south. The English Championship would represent a realistic level, where the cash to make it worth the Jambos' while is readily available.

Leaves on a free in 2025

This might be Rangers' best chance. Of course, lots can change in a year and by next January, Philippe Clement might have been able to source better. He was aware of Shankland from his time in Belgium though and interestingly, namechecked him before the recent Viaplay Cup semi-final.

For Hearts fans, it would be a nightmare repeat of the John Souttar situation, who swapped Gorgie for Govan in 2022 after seeing out his contract at Tynecastle. It's easy for punters to make demands that players are tied down and this sort of thing is prevented, but if your star man doesn't want to sign a new deal and is content to sit tight, there's little to be done but hope he picks a new club who won't be coming up against you the following season.