Just days after completing the signing of Poland U21 international Patryk Klimala, Celtic have been handed a major boost in could end up as the club’s second signing of the winter season.
Dundee United manager Robbie Neilson has dropped a hint concerning the Hoops target Lawrence Shankland’s amid transfer interest in the striker.
The club’s sporting director Tony Asghar was quoted via the Scotsman as saying the club aren’t planning on selling the striker this month earlier this season.
However, according to the Daily Record, the Dundee United manager revealed that while he is keen to keep hold of the striker this month, if he does decide to leave then he will only leave the club to join “the right team” for him, with the report claiming the likes of Celtic, Rangers, Queens Park Rangers and Everton are all preparing move for him.
He said:
“He is a goalscorer and put him into any team, it doesn’t matter what level you are playing at, whether it is the bottom or top flight, put him in a position with just a keeper to beat and he will score goals. We don’t want to lose him but if he does leave then it has to be the right team for Lawrence.”
“He isn’t going to go to a team who are battling at the wrong end of the league where there are very few chances created. He has to go somewhere where teams create chances for him like we are doing here.”
Neilson’s comment are hugely positive news for Celtic, as this open the door for Shankland’s potential departure after Asghar had previously appeared to rule out a move.
Furthermore, the Hoops is exactly the type of club Dundee United manager would consider allowing Shankland to join this month with Celtic the leading goalscorer’s in the Scottish Premiership so far this season, with an impressive 55 goals in just 20 league games.
Shankland would therefore be joining a club who are at the right end of the league and are creating chances in abundance with a record of scoring at an average of over two goals a game thus far.
In my opinion, Celtic can make a move for Shankland this month, but due to much preferred available options in attack, he could then be loan back to Dundee United for the remainder of the season.
Buying him and loaning him straight back, however, is likely to not only appeal to the Tangerines, who would keep him in their push for promotion to the Premiership, but also to Shankland, who would continue his excellent season before linking up with his new teammates in the summer.
