Stephen McGinn thinks Brendan Rodgers still needs to bring in another striker at Celtic before the January transfer window slams shut.

Celtic have already added to the forward line this month after winger Nicolas Kuhn joined from Rapid Vienna – he was pitchside for the 5-0 win over Buckie Thistle on Sunday in the Scottish Cup.

But the name of Lawrence Shankland continues to be thrown about and Stephen McGinn thinks he can take the ‘final step’ of his career by joining Celtic, as he told Go Radio.

The 28-year-old is a wanted man, which shouldn’t be a surprise because he is playing the best football of his career at Tynecastle this season.

Donning the captain’s armband at Hearts, he has ripped it up by scoring 18 goals in all competitions, including 13 from 21 Premiership matches.

Whilst Kyogo Furuhashi is the undisputed king, as he proved once again on derby day, question marks remain behind the Japan star.

That’s why Stephen McGinn backed the idea of Lawrence Shankland making a move to Parkhead.

“I don’t see why not (Celtic go in for Shankland),” said McGinn. “Celtic need another striker.

“Kyogo rubber-stamped his status as the main man in the recent Rangers game. But what they don’t probably have is when Oh comes on with about 20 minutes to go and you are chasing a result, he just doesn’t quite have that knack that Shankland has of nicking that goal. So, I am sure he is spoken about.

“Lawrence Shankland in his career had hit rock bottom, in terms of ability-wise. He had fallen out of the team at St Mirren in his second spell. Didn’t have the best time at Morton. Drops down to Ayr in the third tier of Scottish football and really gets it going again.

“And now he is a Scottish international, who has been linked with Celtic, so it’s probably that one last step for him in his career. That’s what everyone is looking for him to make.”

Lawrence Shankland transfer fee and level

First and foremost, whilst there is money in the bank, the club aren’t just going to spend it like confetti.

It needs to be noted that Hearts, with Shankland in their XI, have a great chance of finishing third this season.

You can firmly rule it out if he leaves!

Bearing that in mind, Hearts are going to want serious money for the player and would Celtic be willing to break the bank for a player like Shankland?

He isn’t better than Kyogo, there is no sell-on value and many would question if he can do it in the Champions League.

So, it wouldn’t be a surprise if most of the fanbase were to say no to this kind of transfer.