Highly rated striker Lawrence Shankland, of Ayr United, is being linked with the Latics along with other teams. Boundary Park has not recently been a place where highly rated players are linked due to many factors, but the introduction of new manager Paul Scholes is just the fillip the Latics needed to entice such players. Football League World summed it up as follows in a recent article:
“With Paul Scholes continuing to find his feet in life as a manager, his Oldham Athletic side have recently been linked with an ambitious summer move to sign Ayr United striker Lawrence Shankland. The forward has become one of the most in-demand players in the Scottish leagues, after attracting a host of high-profile clubs in England having been on fire in front of goal this season. The 23-year old is out of contract at Somerset Park at the end of the season, and is poised to depart the Scottish Championship club in the summer with Scholes’ Latics one of many clubs to declare an interest in the striker. If Oldham fail to gain promotion from League Two this season, then the Latics will undoubtedly be looking to secure promotion to League One next season, and Shankland could be an integral player in their push for promotion.
Here, we take a look at three clear reasons why Shankland would be a sensational signing for Oldham Athletic in the summer…
- Shankland has been in phenomenal form this season, as he looks to fire Ayr to promotion to the SPFL
- The 23-year old has netted an outstanding 30 goals in 30 games for the Scottish club, which is a mightily impressive record for any level of football.
- His form from this season suggests that he can take to League Two with ease.
If Oldham were to win the race to sign Shankland, then it would be a sensational coup. The likes of Nottingham Forest, Hull City and Swansea City have all been linked with Shankland’s signature, with these teams currently sitting two leagues above Oldham. It would be a huge statement of intent from Paul Scholes. There’s no getting away from the fact that Oldham are in need of a goalscorer, as they have struggled to cope since Sam Surridge returned to AFC Bournemouth after an impressive loan spell at Boundary Park.
Callum Lang is currently the club’s top goalscorer, but he is another player that they may be set to lose next season with his loan deal from Wigan expiring at the end of the season.”