Scott Banks has been linked with Premier League outfit Southampton but are Sunderland also keeping tabs on Dundee United’s players?
Southampton sent scouts to watch Dundee United thrash Inverness 4-1 on Saturday, according to the Evening Telegraph, and it is surely no coincidence that coveted midfielder Scott Banks once again featured at Tannadice.
Lawrence Shankland was the star of the show against Caley Thistle, scoring four times including the most rare of goalscoring feats – a hat-trick of headers.
But Banks is the man who is dominating the headlines in Dundee right now. According to the Sun, Southampton are interested in signing the teenager after watching his Man of the Match display in a BetFred Cup triumph over Cowdenbeath in July.
The Daily Record claims that Crystal Palace have offered £400,000 with Leeds United and Manchester City interested too.
Yet Southampton appear to be making further checks on Banks ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline after making another trip to Tannadice. The young Scot came off the bench in the second half in a terrific win for Robbie Neilson’s side.
Interestingly, the report adds that scouts from Sunderland were also in attendance and, ironically enough, they offered a contract to Shankland earlier this summer before he joined Dundee United from Ayr instead (Northern Echo).
Could they already be planning to renew their interest in the four-goal marksman? Or have the Black Cats joined the army of clubs willing to bank on Banks?
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