OPINION
You have to do something pretty special to get yourself noticed in the Scottish Championship, but that’s exactly what Lawrence Shankland has done this season.
28 goals in 24 games has put the former Scotland Under-21 striker firmly on the map and there are going to be a queue of clubs after him in January.
Swansea are reportedly lining up a bid £200k but Ayr United’s chairman Lachlan Cameron has said that any club that wants him needs to improve on that and be prepared to loan him back to Ayr for the rest of the season.
“In a perfect world that would be the scenario we’d like — to have Shankland loaned back immediately,” Cameron said.
“The only thing I’ve heard is Swansea were going to offer us £200,000 for Lawrence. That £200,000 does not really do anything for us. We’ve got a realistic chance of finishing, first, second or third, and that’s with Shankland.
“Without Shankland in the team I think it would be much tougher. If we ended up in fourth, fifth or sixth the difference in prize money alone is more than £200,000.”
And Ayr’s manager Ian McCall thinks that only a bid of £500k would be enough for Cameron to sell and that’s a lot of money for a player like Shankland who’s out of contract in the summer.
One thing is certain, Shankland will be at another club in the summer and Gerrard must make sure he’s at Ibrox.
Would it be worth paying £200-£300k for a player out of contract in the summer and then loaning him back to Ayr? Absolutely.
The fee would ensure that he plays for Rangers and that he carries on building his confidence and banging the goals in for Ayr.
It seems like a no brainer to us and Ayr are ready to do the deal.