Scottish Premiership rivals Celtic and Rangers both reportedly scouted Lawrence Shankland as he scored a hat-trick for Dundee United against Morton.
Dundee United don’t want to sell star striker Lawrence Shankland for a penny less than £2 million, according to the Shields Gazette, with Rangers and Celtic both apparently interested.
Shankland simply can’t stop scoring right now. In seven league games for Dundee United, he has found the net 13 times with a hat-trick against Morton on Saturday the latest dazzling performance from one of Britain’s most in-form centre-forwards. In all competitions, his tally stands at 15 in 12.
So the Championship outfit might already be dreading the transfer window with Shankland attracting interest from Old Firm rivals Rangers and Celtic.
According to the Daily Record, the title challengers both sent scouts to watch the former Scotland U21 international inspire a 6-0 thrashing of Morton and they will surely have been impressed by his elusive movement and clinical finishing.
But how much do Dundee United hope to earn from a player they snapped up on a free in June when his Ayr United contract expired? Well, the Gazette claims that a £2 million profit could be too good to turn down.
Sunderland, meanwhile, must be kicking themselves after failing to lure Shankland to Wearside, despite offering him a contract early in the summer (Northern Echo). He’s scored more goals this season than Will Grigg, Marc McNulty, Charlie Wyke, Chris Maguire and Aiden McGeady this season combined.
Shankland might struggle to oust Odsonne Edouard or Alfredo Morelos from the starting XI at Celtic or Rangers but, should he adapt to life in the top tier, £2 million will look like a bargain for a striker who makes goal-scoring look natural.
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