Lawrence Shankland will leave United but not in January - according to Neilson

The tangerines boss says returning the club to the top flight offers a bigger financial gain than selling any of their star assets

Author: Callum ClarkPublished 30th Dec 2019

Dundee United boss Robbie Neilson's determined to keep hold of striker Lawrence Shankland as reports link with him a move down south.

Scouts from English Championship side QPR were reported to be watching him in the Dundee derby - but Neilson doesn't think he'll leave Tannadice just yet.

"The club will sell him but I don't think it will be done in January. I'd like to keep him here as long as I can but every player's got a price," he said.

"The value of getting this club back to the premier league and back challenging at the top end of the premier league far outweighs what we would get for any of our players."

The tangerines hold a 14 point lead at the summit of the championship with Shankland helping that run with 22 goals in 24 appearances in all competitions.

Neilson said he wouldn't be surprised if offers come in for the 24-year-old next month.

"It'll be an interesting January but the chairman's stated all along that the objective for the football club is to get out of this league.

I would think any bid that would come in, the benefits of getting promoted would outweigh that."