Dundee United goal-machine Lawrence Shankland has admitted that he would consider a move to Sunderland if the League One giants expressed an interest in signing him, speaking to the What the Falk Podcast.
If the Black Cats had a striker like this, they certainly would have made a much better fist of a rather unconvincing promotion charge.
In all competitions, Shankland has hit the back of the net 28 times in 33 matches since joining Dundee United from Ayr last summer, firing the Tangerines back into the Premiership as champions.
Sunderland, meanwhile, look set to miss out on even a place in the play-offs with Chris Maguire the only member of Phil Parkinson’s squad to reach double figures in 2019/20.
So do not be surprised if the Wearside giants make signing a new number nine their top priority in the upcoming transfer window. With that in mind, it may be that a prolific Scotland international who worked with ex-Sunderland boss Jack Ross at St Mirren finds himself on their radar.
“Sunderland are obviously a massive club. That goes without saying,” says Shankland, while playing down claims that he could have signed for the north-east outfit last summer when Ross was still in charge.
“Everybody knows about them and everybody who has watched the Netflix thing would have heard of them.
“Hypothetically speaking it is hard to say. But if Sunderland were interested in you, you would obviously speak to them.”
Will Grigg and Charlie Wyke managed just eight goals between them in 2019/20, making a mockery of their multi-million price-tags in the process. Sunderland will certainly need better if they are to escape their third-tier prison before it is too late.
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