Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Shankland continuing to attract interest as Stoke eye a late move
STOKE City are the latest club to be linked with a move for Dundee United’s star striker Lawrence Shankland.
The Potters are reported to be planning a £3 million rai d for t he Scotland hitman and will watch him in United’s Scottish Cup fourth-round replay at Hibs tonight.
They join a list of the 2 4 - y e a r - o l d ’s s u i t o r s which includes the likes Celtic, Rangers, QPR and Nottingham Forest.
However, Tangerines sporting director Tony Asghar has moved to allay any concerns they will lose their 26-goal talisman before the window slams shut on Friday night.
“There have been no bids,” he said.
“People have contacted me, asked questions and noted i nterest. I don’t foresee us having any bids to discuss this week.”
Meanwhile, Terrors defender Mark Connolly insists the Championship leaders are full of confidence as they head to Easter Road this evening.
United gave a good account of themselves in the 2-2 draw with the Premiership side at Tannadice, twice fighting back from conceding goals early in each half to earn a replay.
And Connolly believes the fact United ran Hibs so close is a positive.
He said: “When you watch the game back, I think we were a bit sloppy at times in the first game against Hibs, just on the ball.
“We weren’t ourselves at times. I think with the cup-tie and, obviously, playing against a decent team – probably the pressure was a little bit there.
“We’re looking forward to it, it gives us another shot, another go at them and we’ll go there definitely with a lot of confidence because you come away from the first game and it was disappointing.
“We could have done better. And I think that’s another positive for us that we l ooked at that and thought we can do better.
“Easter Road will be a big pitch. If we set up right and have confidence on the ball then I think we have a good chance.
“We’re looking forward to it. No doubt the fans will turn up in numbers like they have at every away game and, obviously, home games as well.”