photo by David Young/Action Plus via Getty Images

News

HomeNewsCeltic

Celtic should gamble on Shankland to solve striker woes

Jay Williams

Tue 18 December 2018 10:45, UK

Lawrence Shankland is in red hot form for Ayr United and it is no surprise that a host of clubs are chasing his signature ahead of the January window.

that up to 20 teams, including Swansea City and Sunderland, are chasing Shankland.

, Celtic are also in the hunt.

Signing Shankland would be a risk due to his lack of experience at a high level, but this is one worth taking.

Ayr manager Ian McCall claims that any potential suitors would have to stump up £500,000 for Shankland, .

And in today’s market, that could prove to be the bargain that helps Celtic deliver a third consecutive domestic treble.

With Leigh Griffiths taking a break for the foreseeable future, Brendan Rodgers is solely reliant on Odsonne Edouard.

He needs two new strikers and Shankland could be one of them in cut-price deal.

The 23-year-old’s natural finishing ability has surely stoked Rodgers’ interest and he could carry his form into the top flight.

Last season, the ex-Scotland under-21 striker netted a remarkable 29 goals in 33 games to help Ayr to promotion from Scottish League One.

And he has not only continued that form in the Scottish Championship but improved upon it, netting 28 times in 24 matches.

Shankland would surely be tempted by Europa League football and the promise of silverware.

And the former Queen’s Park and Aberdeen man could be Celtic’s solution to their striker woes.