Shankland, who made his name at Queen’s Park as a young player before a failed move to Aberdeen saw him loaned out to numerous lower-league Scottish clubs as he tried to make an impact, has been one of the top scorers in the Scottish Premiership in recent seasons with the Jambos and has earned 16 caps for Scotland as a result of his strong play at the club. He then scored regularly in the Scottish Championship with Ayr United and Dundee United, and after one season with Belgian team Beerschot, he has been with Hearts since 2022.
Since he hasn’t performed up to his prior level this season, the 29-year-old’s contract at Tynecastle Park is quickly coming to an end, and if rumors are to be believed, he may be moving south of the border in pursuit of a new challenge.
Sunderland register interest in Lawrence Shankland ahead of summer contract expiry
With a chance to return to the Premier League after eight years away, Sunderland has made a significant impression in the Championship this season and appears to be headed for a spot in the play-offs.
No matter their league standing, they will undoubtedly be busy during the summer transfer window, and according to transfer reporter Graeme Bailey, the Black Cats may be about to make a move for Shankland.
According to Bailey, Sunderland is one of several teams that have contacted his agents and expressed interest. Relegation-threatened top-flight team Ipswich Town has also been mentioned as a potential suitor.
As he gets closer to 30, it is not surprising that he is rumored to be open to a move to English football, but Bailey says a possible move to Saudi Arabia is also possible.
Despite apparent interest from Turkey, the Hearts Standard stated in January that no team had made a firm offer for Shankland’s services, despite the fact that many clubs had been linked to a move in previous windows. If Sunderland wants to pursue a trade before his contract expires, they may have a good chance of getting him to sign.
Sunderland should only go for Shankland if they are in the Championship next season
Regis Le Bris’ side have certainly not struggled going forward so far this term, with their 55 goals scored being the fourth-highest among all Championship teams up to now.
Wilson Isidor has shone as their main centre-forward, so much so that his loan from Zenit St. Petersburg was made into a permanent deal in the winter window, while Eliezer Mayenda has really proven his worth in recent weeks by stepping off the bench to score some vital goals as they aim to cement their place inside the top six.
With that said, numerous different scenarios are likely to play out the summer, dependent on which league the Wearside outfit will be playing in, in 2025/26. If they do go up, then they will likely want to add a striker of real quality to compete with Isidor, while if they were to stay down, the French forward could well depart for a higher-placed team.
After scoring 24 league goals in each of his first two seasons with Hearts, Shankland is unquestionably a terrific goal scorer at a particular level. However, he has only scored four goals in all competitions this season, which has angered some Tynecastle supporters.
Even though he is obviously not getting any younger—he will be thirty by the time next season arrives—Sunderland could do much worse than add him as depth for the upcoming campaign if they are still a second-tier team. Although the 16-cap Scotland international now feels that the Premier League is too large of a leap, the Black Cats may make a move if they have some strong play in the upcoming months.
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