'Spoken to player's camp' - West Brom and Southampton pushing to land 31-goal striker following positive talks

West Bromwich Albion have reportedly reignited their interest in Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland but face competition from Southampton.

The Baggies are expected to motor on with their transfer business now that new head coach Ryan Mason has been appointed and bringing in a new centre-forward is seen as a necessity. The likes of Josh Maja, Daryl Dike, Devante Cole and Karlan Grant can only do so much when injury problems mount up, so Albion are eager to bring in a fresh face or two.

Shankland, heavily linked with West Brom back in 2020 while he was at Dundee United, is yet to renew terms with Hearts and is officially a free agent as it stands following his contract expiry on May 31. The Jam Tarts are working hard to try and keep their captain at Tynecastle - and manager Derek McInnes has held talks with him - but Shankland is weighing up his options.

The Scottish Sun reports West Brom and Southampton are considering moves for Shankland as they seek to strengthen their respective strike forces. It’s claimed Albion have spoken to the player’s camp to make their interest known and have discussed the prospect of joining up with Mason in a new-look squad at The Hawthorns. Saints, meanwhile, are yet to make contact but are monitoring the situation.

Shankland, who turns 30 in August, was named the PFA Scotland Player of the Year in 2023/24 after scoring 31 goals in 47 matches across all competitions. That was a second successive season that Shankland was a goalscoring machine as he netted 28 in 47 games during the 2022/23 term. The rate did slow during the campaign just gone, however, as Shankland scored just nine times in 43 games.

When West Brom backed out of signing the Scotland international back in 2020, it was because of the cost of the deal. That won’t be an issue this time, however, as Shankland wouldn’t cost a penny in transfer fees. His wage demands likely wouldn’t be too ridiculous either.

If Shankland does make the move to The Hawthorns or St Mary’s Stadium, it will be his first taste of English football as he has spent much of his career to date in Scotland, along with one brief spell in Belgium. That may raise some concerns but he’s been a prolific scorer wherever he’s been, whether that be Hearts, Dundee United, Ayr United, Beerschot or elsewhere.

West Brom eyeing huge squad overhaul

Shankland certainly isn’t the only potential signing Albion are looking at as the recruitment team are eager to bolster several key positions. Grady Diangana, John Swift and Semi Ajayi will need to be replaced as they are leaving at the end of their contracts, whereas academy product Tom Fellows could secure a move to the Premier League amid strong interest.

That would mean signing players in at least the left wing, attacking midfield, right wing and centre-back spots – and that’s without considering other areas that clearly needed strengthening during the season just gone. Albion may consider signing a new goalkeeper following Alex Palmer’s exit, another left-back is desired, depth is a necessity at centre-back and more bite is needed in midfield.