Scottish international Lawrence Shankland has been in cracking form this season in the Championship. Dundee United have a 17 points lead on the top of the table, and they are running away easily with the second division title. Shankland has had a significant role to play in that as the striker has bagged 24 goals and three assists in all competitions already.
The striker has been linked with a move to Celtic and Rangers. Celtic reportedly (The Scottish Sun) watched him recently and English club QPR were also keeping track of him. The striker recently bagged a perfect hattrick against Patrick Thistle as he scored with both his foot and with a header.
Former Rangers captain on Shankland
Dundee United’s current assistant manager and former Rangers captain Lee McCulloch indicated that Rangers must be interested in the striker after his form so far. McCulloch said (The Courier), ‘’ It’s so important we keep Lawrence at the club. We want to keep him as long as we can, but I’d be staggered if bids don’t come in for him this month. Both of the Old Firm must be interested in him simply because of the goals return he has.”
”Lawrence can play as a lone striker or one of two upfront, and you can see how good he is outside the box as well. His touch and his movement have both improved.”
Shankland failed to establish himself with Aberdeen initially in his career, and he had to fight in the lower division. He has been nothing less than a goal-scoring machine in the last few years as he was in top form even for Ayr United.
Why should Gerrard look at Shankland?
It wouldn’t be surprising to see him move in the summer and Rangers should definitely keep an eye on him. The Bears are not in desperate need of a new striker as they have brilliant options in Jermain Defoe and Alfredo Morelos. However, Defoe isn’t going to be around for long, and Morelos could move away in the summer if a top offer comes in. Hence, it makes sense for Gerrard and Co to keep an eye on a striker and Shankland is doing all the right things, albeit in the Championship level.
Rangers were linked with him last summer as well, and they reportedly came close to signing him on a free transfer. Maybe the club could have signed him then and loaned him for the season to a side like Dundee United. Now Rangers will have to spend some transfer fee in the summer to get him, and according to McCulloch, both the Glaswegian giants might be after him. We believe that he can be a hit even at the Premiership level.
