DUNDEE UNITED‘s sporting director has admitted that the club will need to consider bids for Lawrence Shankland as a result of Coronavirus’ impact on the game.

The Championship winners are preparing for life in the top division and will be keen to keep the 28-goal Scotland Internationalist for next season; however, the club will look at offers as they come in as Tony Ashgar admitted when speaking to BBC Scotland.

“If bids come in, we’ll have to look at them.

“[We’ll assess] the situation financially, whether it’s going to help the club long term. [It is] strange times, but ultimately we definitely want to hold on to him.

“Lawrence has two years left on his contract and I know he is really happy where he is. He is looking forward to playing for us in the Premiership.

“It will be interesting how the market is going to play. Everyone says there will be no transfer signings; I don’t see that. Clubs are always going to try to enhance their squad and sign players.”

Celtic reportedly tried to poach Shankland in January with recruitment chief Nicky Hammond watching the hitman as well as scout Tosh McKinlay. Although the club appeared to cool their interest when Klimala arrived as well as the resurgence of Leigh Griffiths.

Celtic have been linked with Shankland following his impressive season with the Tannadice club. However, reports back in January suggested that the club would not move for Shankland following the signing of Klimala in the January transfer window.

The 24-year-old insisted to Football Daft Podcast that nothing had materialised from any reported interest and that he expected more interest soon following the opening of the transfer window.

“It’s always the same – it’ll probably start again soon.

“If you’ve done well, people just automatically [think]any time there’s a scout at the game

‘they’re there to watch you’ – and they’re probably not, they’re there to watch somebody else.

“With Stoke, Rangers and Celtic that was the three strongest rumours and I hadn’t heard from any of them at all.”

Should Celtic and United be in a position to deal, a move for Shankland would only make sense if Celtic were to lose any of their four strikers. Shankland is unlikely to want to play second or third fiddle to Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths.