Signing targets show Tannadice ambition

Dundee United have sold over four thousand season tickets, which is a terrific show of support from the Arabs.

But it also puts a bit of pressure on those in charge to satisfy expectations for the Premiership season.

United could not be accused of not investing heavily under Mark Ogren.

He has delivered top flight football, but it’s the nature of the beast that fans want more.

Two ambitious targets are in the Tannadice sights, with Celtic’s Jonny Hayes, and Dunfermline’s Kevin Nisbet, among the players they want for their big league ambitions.

Both would be fine catches but neither will be easy to land.

Nisbet, with 23 goals last season, has been in the sights of United and Hibs, with both clubs having bids rejected in the last transfer window, and the player admitting that he wanted to go to Easter Road at that time.

He’d be a fine signing and would pair well with Lawrence Shankland, forming a potentially lethal front pairing.

That assumes of course that he would be an addition to the squad as opposed to a replacement for United’s star striker, who has been the subject of serious interest from bigger clubs himself.

My fear is that United may lose out to clubs with deeper pockets, with Portsmouth among those reckoned to be lining up an offer.

But if the Tangerines are successful they’ll acquire a striker who has real pace, sharp-shooting ability, and offers fine link-up play.

A strike force of Shankland, and Nisbet would be one to seriously worry Premiership defences, and if they can do the deal, United’s prospects of success in the top league would be firmly enhanced.

Jonny Hayes is another on United’s radar, although the Celtic man, I suspect, is another one who may be beyond the Tannadice budget if English Championship clubs, or his former club Aberdeen, enter the bidding.

Hayes was a standout at Pittodrie but was a squad player at Celtic Park.

At 32 he is a supremely fit, quick and direct wide player, and certainly has a few years of top flight football left in him.

We write players off in the veteran category far too quickly in this country.

Hayes isn’t a spring chicken, but in modern sport he’s no Methuselah either.

He would be a superb signing, bringing huge experience and professionalism to the club.

Both players would give season book buyers real value for their money.

Davidson could be Saints’ messiah

St Johnstone are looking to appoint Tommy Wright’s successor within two weeks.

Calum Davidson remains the ideal fit for the club and I’ll be surprised if he isn’t in place shortly to inherit a squad which has great potential.

The age and make-up of the Saints squad is excellent.

There’s energy and vitality in all areas of the pitch and a decent mixture of experience and youth.

A manager with a good contacts book to strengthen the squad in key departments even further – and one who knows the club and how it works – is required.

Davidson brings solid experience having operated both sides of the border.

He ticks all the boxes.

Both players, Hayes and Nisbet, would give season book buyers real value for their money

Picture: SNS. Dundee United owner Mark Ogren has invested heavily in the club but fans will always want more.