Earlier this month Robbie Neilson claimed that Lawrence Shankland wouldn’t be sold in January, a look at Dundee United’s accounts would suggest that the Tannadice manager may be over-ruled if an offer of £1m arrives for the striker.
The former Ayr United man has been in sparkling form since moving to Tayside in the summer with his form earning him a call up into the Scotland squad to face Russia and San Marino. On his first start he scored in the 6-0 win over San Marino, shortly after being linked with a move to Celtic.
Beyond Odsonne Edouard, Neil Lennon is short on striking options with that position likely to be a priority when the transfer window opens.
Although San Marino is no guideline for a prospective Celtic signing Shankland did link up well with Ryan Christie, James Forrest and Callum McGregor.
Dundee United are three points clear at the top of the Championship but one look at their accounts, and particularly their wage bill suggests that they are in no position to turn away any decent offers that are made in January.
Covering the United accounts, The Scotsman reports:
Lawrence Shankland was convinced to stay in the Scottish Championship when top-flight clubs and those in England were circling. Persuasion of that sort does not come cheaply. The new accounts released in a brochure to shareholders show that the wage to turnover ratio is currently a mammoth 133 per cent. Many will surely have blanched upon reading this. Dundee United were once renowned for their fiscal prudence.
The Dundee United wage bill is currently around £4 million, while turnover – in these latest figures – is £3.12m (it was £3.19m the previous year).
Shankland signed a three-year contract for United in the summer as a free agent.
Should Celtic put in a January offer for Lawrence Shankland?
Yes, makes perfect sense
No, we have to aim higher
