In the SPFL ace pursuit, Bristol City joins Birmingham City after former Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo delivers the Shankland verdict.

Laszlo has said, as per the Scottish Sun: “Shankland is a different player to the one I saw in Belgium. I was in the frame to be the Beerschot coach. I knew the team well — they also had Frederic Frans who I had at Dundee United — and had many conversations with the sporting directors. “They asked me a lot about Shankland. The question came up because, practically, he failed. But I believed that he didn’t get the trust from the coaches. He was on the bench often. His career in Europe was seen as a failure but he’s a guy who you MUST trust. If he doesn’t feel that trust he’s not the player who will help you. “In that sense, he is a bit of a mystery. But I am very curious if he wants to go abroad again. He could do better next time. He has some similarity with the Hungary No. 9 Varga because Shankland was discovered very late for the national team. “And for a long time no one believed that he could be a national player. He’s not the first choice for Scotland yet. But he’s ALWAYS good for a goal — any time. He’s a fighter, a goalscorer and really good with his head. If Shankland comes into the game, he brings lots of positive energy.”