Simon Donnelly isn’t too sure that Celtic should be looking to sign in-form Hearts star, Lawrence Shankland.
Celtic’s next step in the January transfer window is to bring in another striker, but it’s not going to be easy given the short space of time the team have to work with.
Plus, it’s never easy doing big deals of any kind during the winter transfer window.
Throughout the season, as Lawrence Shankland has scored goal after goal for Hearts, his name has popped up on the transfer radar.
When the possibility of the 28-year-old was discussed, Simon Donnelly cast his doubt, even though he is a ‘very good finisher’, as he told Clyde 1.
The Scotland international is playing the best football of his career, with 13 goals from 21 Premiership matches, including a stunning stoppage-time winner in Edinburgh Derby at Hibernian.
It’s not only on the domestic stage where Lawrence Shankland has faired well, but in Europe too, with four-goal involvements from four matches.
Despite speaking highly of the player and how this type of transfer to Celtic has worked in the past, Simon Donnelly dismissed this one.
Lawrence Shankland to Celtic
“I think Shankland is a very good finisher,” said Donnelly. “He is probably hitting his best form as a player, there is a maturity there.
“I have seen him in the European games and I think he has brought something else to his game, in terms of link-up play as well. I think he is quite clever from what I have seen this season. Not blistering pace. It’s hard to speculate what he would bring to Celtic. I think, in recent times, not looked down your nose, but we need to look elsewhere rather than at home.
“I am not comparing him to these players at all, but similar kind of moves. Scott McDonald from Motherwell to Celtic. Scored a lot of goals coming from within our own Premier League, so it has been done before.
“Lawrence Shankland at Celtic, I am not so sure. Not so sure! They have got Kyogo there again they have to look for back-up, I suppose as well. Oh is still a young boy. I don’t think he has nailed down that automatic replacement for Kyogo just yet.”
Next step in Europe
That’s the main aim for the team in the long-term and you would hope that’s why Brendan Rodgers was brought back.
When new signings come in, such as Nicolas Kuhn, fans rightfully compare it to how this player will or can elevate the team in Europe.
Whilst Shankland would help matters on the domestic stage, you can’t help but feel deflated if a player like that arrives because you would raise questions about what he would be capable of doing in the Champions League.
Plus, this isn’t potential, but someone who is hitting the peak of his powers, which also means no sell-on value.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
