Promotion key to Shankland strategy

Dundee United’s desire to win promotion will be the key factor in their Lawrence Shankland strategy.

Tannadice sporting director Tony Asghar has confirmed that nothing will trump the club’s Premiership ambition when it comes to dealing with any possible bids for their striker, who made his Scotland debut in Moscow last week.

Asghar said: “Lawrence has committed to three years and this club has a history of selling players at the wrong time.

“Lawrence was a target for us all last season.

“Robbie Neilson and I spoke about him and it took a lot of time and a lot of phone calls to get him.

“My job is to get the best value for the club and the best value for the club is to go on and get promotion over and above any money from a transfer fee.

“The owners (Mark and Scott Ogren) have invested a lot of money. “They are craving success.

“If you weigh a transfer fee up against success on the pitch then they will take success on the pitch every time.

“I don’t think there is any price you could name for us to sell him and then not give ourselves the best chance of promotion.

“I am sure Lawrence would say the same thing. He’s a great boy. Other clubs had a chance to take him six months ago and never took it – he understands that.

“He is committed to the cause here. By seeing the coaching staff all signing new deals now, it will show him that we’re all in this for the long-term.

“Some clubs can find themselves in the position where they have to sell their top assets but we are not in that position.”