Lawrence Shankland baffled by claims Rangers move was close

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Rangers have been linked with bringing Lawrence Shankland to Ibrox.

Rangers are being linked with Lawrence Shankland – but the Dundee United striker has told the Daily Record that he isn’t aware of a deal being close last season.

Shankland, 24, was a star with Ayr United, smashing 62 goals in 73 games for the club to attract major attention ahead of his contract expiring in June.

Bizarrely, he chose a move to another Scottish Championship side, staying in the second tier by joining Dundee United on a free transfer – and the goals have continued to flow.

With 15 goals in 12 games so far this season, Shankland is enjoying a remarkable start to the season, and is now being linked with other clubs once again.

The Daily Record reported earlier this week that Celtic and Rangers both want to sign Shankland, and are going head-to-head for his signature ahead of January.

Interestingly, Partick Thistle boss Ian McCall – who managed Shankland at Ayr United – told BBC Sport on Tuesday that the striker was ‘close’ to joining Rangers last season.

As a boyhood Rangers fan, he’d have no doubt loved a move to Ibrox, but Shankland has now admitted that he knows nothing about any move to Rangers being close, suggesting McCall must have known something he doesn’t.

Shankland added that he knows scoring goals will get him attention, but he wants to stay and ensure Dundee United return to the Scottish Premiership, meaning Celtic and Rangers may need to shelve that interest for a little while yet.

“He (McCall) must have known something I didn’t know. I didn’t know much about that, honestly,” said Shankland. “They might have been watching me last season but there was nothing stick-on about it.”

“If people are watching me this season then I’m obviously doing my job. And scoring goals will always attract attention. But I have a job to do here this season. I signed for three years with United in the summer – and that’s what I’m committed to. If and when I do leave, I want United to be in the Premiership. That was part of my objective when I came here. The club has ambition to get back into the top flight and be established in that league. That’s why I signed the contract I did. So hopefully we win the Championship or get through the play-offs and be up there next season,” he added.