Just a few weeks back, reports had emerged (The Scottish Sun) that Celtic’s head of recruitment Nick Hammond had watched Scottish striker Lawrence Shankland from close quarters. Championship club QPR were also linked with him. Shankland has been in terrific form over the last few years in Scotland’s second and third division and Celtic have been linked heavily with him in the past few months.
Celtic learn Shankland’s price tag
Now latest reports from the Scottish Sun states that Dundee United have put up a price tag of £3m for Shankland. English club Stoke City are seemingly interested in him. Dundee United’s owner Mark Ogren has reportedly made it clear that the club wouldn’t entertain offers below £3m.
United are vying for promotion to the Scottish top flight, and it is understandable why the club is valuing Shankland highly. The Tangerines are currently 18 points clear at the top of the table, and they are romping their way up to the Scottish Premiership. Shankland has his contract at the club until 2022, and he would likely move on to bigger and better things in the future.
Even though Shankland is yet to prove himself in the top flight, the striker represented Scotland not too long ago, and he also bagged a goal. This season, the forward has 25 goals and three assists to his name already and he is one of the hottest properties in Scotland’s lower divisions.
It isn’t surprising that both the Glaswegian giants have been linked with him in the past. Celtic needed a striker at the start of the January window, and they signed Patryk Klimala for a fee of £3.5m. Lennon has indicated that the club could sign a few more players before the transfer window shuts down. But it seems unlikely to us that the club would spend £3m on Shankland in this transfer window, with the Hoops procuring a striker earlier.
Does Lennon need him in January?
We believe that Dundee United might be more open to selling Shankland in the summer once they bag promotion to the top flight. The striker has been scoring all kind of goals for United, and he seems ready to take the next challenge in his career. He is quite clearly standing apart in the Championship, and his finishing skills and scoring instincts have stood out.
If Stoke City table a bid of around £3m then maybe Dundee United could be tempted to sell him. Losing him wouldn’t be too big a blow for Celtic after they signed Klimala. But the Hoops should continue monitoring him, and if he is available in the summer then, they should make a move for the 24-year-old.
