‘West Brom can seal Shankland transfer now’ as he skips pre-season jet away
West Brom are keen on a move for Lawrence Shankland, with crunch time approaching.
Ryan Mason is ready to add some attacking firepower to his side, as the Baggies look to build their squad for Premier League promotion.
Shankland has established himself as one of the best strikers in the Scottish Premiership over recent seasons, and his final campaign at Hearts saw him also drop into a deeper role.
The 29-year-old is soon out of contract at Tynecastle, and West Brom are now trying to convince him to join on a free transfer over Saudi interest.
Shankland skips Hearts pre-season flight
Shankland has given his biggest indication yet that he is eager to leave Hearts and move to the Championship, with West Brom among several interested clubs.
Hearts will fly to Spain for a pre-season training camp on Saturday, June 28, but following talks with the Jambos hierarchy, Shankland will not be on the plane.
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hearts | 137 | 68 | 23 |
| Ayr United | 74 | 63 | 24 |
| Dundee United | 74 | 40 | 9 |
| St. Mirren | 55 | 14 | 7 |
| Queen’s Park | 43 | 14 | 2 |
| Beerschot VA | 28 | 5 | 4 |
| Morton | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| Aberdeen FC | 17 | – | 1 |
The Daily Record (28 June) have reported that Hearts are running out of patience as the striker deliberates over his future, and they want an answer quickly.
Shankland has been training on his own in Dubai, and failing to join his teammates in Spain may show that he is much closer to leaving Hearts than staying.
Shankland concern for West Brom
While Shankland established himself as a prolific goalscorer over the years in Scotland, last season saw him take up a different role as a second striker.
This meant that while he scored just four league goals, he also provided 11 assists, but there may still be some concern over how he will fit into Mason’s side.
There may be question marks over Shankland’s fitness as he gets older, and his ability to press and run in behind could be waning.
Nevertheless, signing a striker of his experience for free would be a positive step for West Brom, and it could facilitate an exit for Karlan Grant this summer.
Shankland scored 68 goals and provided 23 assists in 137 games for Hearts, but having spent his entire career in Scotland so far, he may now be keen on a different challenge.
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