Heart of Midlothian chief executive Andrew McKinlay has revealed the club have had no transfer interest in Lawrence Shankland this month.

The Tynecastle club have offered Shankland a new improved contract - which remains on the table -but haven't had any formal or informal attempts to sign the Scotland striker this month.

Multiple reports had suggested a swell in transfer interest for Shankland after an electric first half of the season, including possible Rangers interest, but McKinlay insists the club have yet to be approached.

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In a club supporter update with HeartsTV, McKinlay explained: "[We're] well aware, understandable given how good Lawrence has been for us since he came to the club. We are delighted with how well [he's done] and we all know, it's very obvious how important he has been to the team, in particular this season.

"It has been documented that there will be a lot of interest. As of today, we haven't had any.

"We still have had no interest, either formally or informally, expressed in Lawrence and we are not encouraging any interest in Lawrence."

On fresh terms offered to Shankland, his current deal expiring next summer, McKinlay added: "As has also been documented, we have made an offer to Lawrence. Now, Lawrence, as you'd expect is already in the high-pay bracket within the club - we have various brackets for players.

"But we have made him an additional offer and that's gone to him and that remains on the table for him to consider.

"The thing about it is, we'll get some people saying 'You should pay him whatever he wants' and I understand that but I have got to look at things both from the immediate here and now but also in the future.

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"If you do absolutely break a wage structure or break the bank everyone will suddenly know how much you have paid.

"It's amazing how agents always seem to know what other players are getting and I've got to protect us for the future as well. Anything we do now could have repercussions in the future.

"As we sit here, Lawrence remains a Hearts player and I sincerely hope and believe at the moment that he will be a Hearts player on February 1."