Dundee United have launched a dramatic bid to sign Ayr United striker Lawrence Shankland.

The in-demand frontman, who tormented the Tangerines when he scored four times in a 5-0 win for the Honest Men at Tannadice back in November, was expected to move away from Scotland this summer.

He has been heavily linked with Swansea City but United’s sporting director Tony Asghar last night confirmed that United have made an eye-catching move to land Shankland.

Asghar said: “We are in talks with Lawrence Shankland’s representatives and we have made an offer to come to Dundee United.

“We see Lawrence as a top player and we want him to be part of our Championship challenge and beyond.

“We know Lawrence is very much a player in demand and has a lot of offers elsewhere and we are hopeful things will come to a conclusion, either way, very quickly.”

United have played a bit of a canny game this close season as regards recruitment, with full-backs Adrian Sporle and Liam Smith the only new arrivals at their St Andrews training base thus far.

However, this news from Asghar indicates that manager Robbie Neilson is significantly stepping up the pace.