•  Sunderland should prioritize signing Lawrence Shankland to bolster their attacking output and beat Rangers to the signing.
•  Shankland has a proven track record of scoring goals in Scottish football and could establish himself before the European Championships.
•  The Black Cats have struggled to find consistent goalscorers and Shankland could be the solution, benefiting from the club’s strong supporting players.

As Sunderland looks to increase its offensive production, they should try to beat Rangers to the acquisition of experienced finisher Lawrence Shankland.

This season, the Scottish international has now netted 17 goals for Hearts in all

competitions, including 12 goals in the league and a last-minute winner in the Edinburgh derby last month.

Since joining the Edinburgh team in July 2022, the 28-year-old has scored 45 goals

for them. Although he has been strongly linked to a move to the Scottish

powerhouse Rangers, Hearts is said to have outbid the Scottish team.

The Hearts skipper is thought to cost at least £3 million to leave this month, ruling out the Glasgow team until the

summer, according to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider.

Shankland’s career so far

Lawrence Shankland is a bit of a journeyman in Scottish football and has scored goals wherever he has played, particularly in the Scottish Championship.

His current spell with Hearts has seen huge success, with 28 goals in 47 games last season and another 17 so far this campaign.

The striker isn’t afraid of a new challenge, spending a season in Belgium with second division side, Beerschot in 2021/22.

He has also scored twice in seven appearances for the Scottish national team and a successful move to Sunderland could provide Shankland with the opportunity to really establish himself in the side, ahead of the European Championships in Germany this summer.

Similarities with Stewart

Sunderland’s last acquisition of a front man from Scotland was a huge success.

Ross Stewart came into the northeast of England after a somewhat average

career in Scottish football, scoring just 28 in goals in 82 appearances for Ross County in his final spell in Scotland.

The striker found form at Sunderland, netting 40 goals in 81 Sunderland

appearances, including 10 goals in 13 games in the Championship before injury stopped his season.

Since moving to Southampton, further injury has limited him to just 2 appearances.

Arriving with more pressure to perform, but also having a stronger record in Scotland than Stewart, was Lawrence Shankland.

Both forwards have an excellent eye for goal and are physically strong enough to hold up the ball.

Sunderland’s stuttering strikers

The Black Cats have been reliant on goals from midfield and wide areas so far this season, with Jack Clarke (12), Daniel Neil (4) and Jobe Bellingham (4) the club’s top scorers in the Championship so far this season.

Michael Beale will need to look to strengthen up top if they are to continue their fight for the playoffs. Sunderland’s other options have failed to impress so far.

Ukrainian frontman, Nazariy Rusyn has scored just once in 10 appearances, whilst Chelsea loanee, Mason Burstow has failed to find the net at all and has been linked with a return to his parent club.

Shankland would almost certainly provide a solution to the problems in front of goal and is clearly full of confidence.

He would be provided with plenty of chances from the Black Cats’ creative players and could be excited by the potential of a Premier League push in the North East.

Supporting players

Behind the striker Sunderland have some of the best attacking and creative players in the Championship.

One of the division’s most sought-after wingers, Jack Clarke, may be moving this window, and when healthy, Patrick Roberts can also produce magical moments.

Shankland would have plenty of opportunities to score from midfielders Jobe Bellingham, Alex Pritchard, and Dan Neil, and the Scott might soon win over Wearside supporters.

It is said that several elite Premier League clubs are showing interest in Neil.

Alternative options

If Sunderland are unable to attract Shankland from Hearts, then they will likely look elsewhere.

The Black Cats are reportedly keeping tabs on Jay Stansfield, who has been gathering plaudits during his loan at Birmingham City in the first half of the season.

High-flying Ipswich Town appears to be the current favorites to recruit the striker, so if Fulham decides to call up the player from his current loan at Birmingham City, they will have competition.