Hearts boss Derek McInnes wants striker Lawrence Shankland on the plane to Spain when the squad jets out later this week for their pre-season training camp.
The new head coach hopes to find a way of keeping the Glasgow-born player at the Gorgie club and McInnes believes the 29-year-old can score over 25 goals a season for the club.
He told a media briefing that he was still talking to Shankland (pictured) who is out of contract but re-signing and scoring goals for the Jambos could keep the club’s captain of last season in the Scotland squad.
McInnes said: “We think we’re a really strong option. There is a brilliant project going on here and, hopefully, Lawrence is part of it. ”
Meanwhile, 42-year-old goalkeeper, Craig Gordon, may not be fit for the start of the William Hill Premiership season due to a shoulder injury.
The club’s League Cup campaign starts on July 12 with a home game against Dunfermline Athletic but the Scotland international will not be fit for that game according to McInnes.
