Rangers are on the verge of signing Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland, the Scotland forward who has tormented them for years. The deal is not yet finalized—a medical remains pending—but everything points toward a swift conclusion. Shankland returned from holiday as negotiations accelerated this week, with chairman Andrew Cavenagh's recent call for Scottish leaders and gnarled professionals fitting the striker perfectly.

The 29-year-old has a prolific record against Rangers, scoring in a 2-0 win at Ibrox in September, netting the winner against them in December, and adding another in May. Both clubs are keeping the fee undisclosed, though Hearts fans will be furious if he leaves for nothing given the reported contract situation. Losing their captain and principal scorer is bad enough without added insult.

For Hearts manager Derek McInnes, this represents a bitter blow after he personally convinced Shankland to stay when he took over. The pair worked excellently together during Shankland's 20-goal near-glory season. If completed, this transfer shapes up as the signing of the summer.