The 28-year-old was on target for Scotland in their 2-2 draw with Georgia on Thursday (16 November), and he has scored 10 goals for Hearts in all competitions this season.
Rangers have been linked with Shankland in the past without actually signing the versatile forward, but Jack believes the January window is the perfect time to do so.
Jack stated: “There’s no shame in going to pick out a gem from America, like [Jose] Cifuentes, and turning them into a player” in an interview with the Rangers Review podcast [November 17, 2 minutes and 26 seconds].
“Celtic has a long history of selecting the finest Scottish players, so there’s no shame in doing so. Take a look at Ryan Christie, Gary Mackay-Steven, and Stuart Armstrong.
“I just don’t see why Rangers don’t do that more; that market is right there on your doorstep, and you know what they bring from watching them play.”
For Jack, it’s an obvious choice. Rangers ought to have signed this player long ago, but if a January deal is possible, it ought to be done.
These decisions are somewhat obvious at times. Hearts would probably estimate that it would take about two million to acquire Shankland. When it reaches three, three-and-a-half, or four, you would most likely decline.
For Rangers, however, spending at that level simply checks a lot of boxes. First, for his Scottish heritage, but also for his contributions. I just fail to see why this hasn’t been done since he scores goals and is familiar with both the team and the league.
It seems like a great fit for Rangers, and I’d be shocked if the team isn’t considering it. The core of Scottish players that made up successful Rangers teams in the past has disappeared in recent years.
