There are fresh rumours around Celtic potentially making a play for Hearts’ skipper Lawrence Shankland. The rumour originates from HITC.com. Now, while they’re on the ball with football news, it’s worth noting they’re not in Celtic’s inner circle.

Chances are, if they’ve got any sort of scoop, it’s through whispers from an agent who have their own agendas, so let’s not carve it in stone just yet.

The report claims that a whole host of clubs, including Everton, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, Burnley, Southampton, Hull City, and Middlesbrough, are also said to be watching the in-form striker with keen interest.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been open about his admiration for Shankland, hailing his ‘fantastic finish’ in the Edinburgh Derby last week where Shankland won it in stoppage time.

While according to the report Rangers briefly flirted with the idea of signing Shankland, opting instead for Fabio Silva from Wolves, Celtic’s perceived interest is sticking around for now.

While Shankland’s current streak with Hearts is undeniably impressive, a bit of his past performance offers a crucial perspective. Remember his stint in the Belgian league a few years back? It was a tough time for him, and it highlights an important point: Shankland thrives in the SPFL, which is great for domestic play, but it does raise a question mark over how he might handle more challenging situations.

This is particularly pertinent for Celtic. Domestically, Shankland could be a star, but as the team looks hopefully towards European competitions next season, should the club be aiming higher? With Hearts keen to hold onto the striker and asking for decent money, it just seems like it’s not the best move Celtic can make.