Hearts sporting director Graeme Jones has defended allowing captain Lawrence Shankland to join Rangers for free, confirming the 30-year-old Scotland striker scored 20 goals last season before departing. The decision stunned supporters who had watched Shankland sign a new three-year deal just last July, leaving the club without their talisman.

Jones explained the club faced a choice: keep Shankland with a break clause risk or potentially lose him after one successful season. The Tynecastle club has already recruited Josh McPake and MJ Kamson-Kamara this summer while midfielder Cammy Devlin remains in contract talks with positive discussions ongoing.

Replacing 20 goals per season and a captain's leadership presents a significant challenge for head coach Derek McInnes. Hearts may need multiple signings to fill the void left by their talisman who scored 88 goals in 171 appearances at Tynecastle.