Hearts the 'best option' for Shankland but decision needed

Derek McInnes says Hearts is the "best option" for Lawrence Shankland but admits a decision on the striker's future needs to be made "sooner rather than later".The out-of-contract captain has been offered "a really strong option" to remain at Tynecastle and has yet to accept.After netting 59 goals in his first two seasons with Hearts, Scotland striker Shankland netted just nine last season, but new boss McInnes is keen to keep the 29-year-old."I'm in constant dialogue with Lawrence, spoke to his agents as well several times through the last few weeks, but Lawrence has obviously got a lot to consider," he told Sky Sports."We think we're a really strong option for him, whether we're the best option in Lawrence's eyes we've got to wait and see."But there'll come a point really that we need to draw a line under it and Lawrence has got to look at looking after him and I've got to look after Hearts."Hopefully we can find a solution because he is a player that I think can really thrive with us at Hearts."He's shown in the time here how important he is and you try and not let players like that leave without putting up the best fight you can and we're in the fight for him."I believe we're a really strong option for Lawrence, I believe we're the best option for him at this moment, he's got the World Cup to try and get involved in at the end of next season."There are loads of reasons why Lawrence could see this as a good option for him. Hopefully we're his best option and at the minute we're in the fight to keep him."When asked if he and Hearts have given the striker a deadline, McInnes replied: "I always feel deadlines are not always healthy and sometimes can be a bit antagonistic. "There's been enough conversations with Lawrence."There'll come a point where he has to move on and try and secure his future and likewise, I need to make sure we secure our squad going forward but we're not at that stage yet."But, sooner rather than later really, we need to try and get that resolved because I want clarity in what I'm dealing with and I'm sure Lawrence is wanting clarity on his future as well."

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