Ayr United's Lawrence Shankland could make the difference in Sunderland getting promoted next season.

After the club suffered another painful season by missing out in the play-off final, they need to reinforce their attacking options if they want to go one better next year.

The Black Cats are reported to be among the race for the 23-year-old's signature - who was the top scorer in the Scottish Championship last season.

The failure to replace Josh Maja with a suitable replacement played an evident role in the club's unsuccessful season.

Here, we give five reasons as to why Lawrence Shankland could be the answer to take them to the second tier of English football...

1. He has a great goal return

Shankland, who currently plays for Ayr United in the Scottish Championship, has had a superb couple of seasons. He has scored 50 goals in 61 games in the league since joining Ayr, and while the Scottish Championship is a lower level than English League One, you would hope that he can take that momentum into England.

Shankland finished as the top scorer in the league last season with 24 goals - three more than the next best scorer, Queen of the South's Stephen Dobbie.

If that's not enough, he also bagged another 10 goals in cup competitions, taking him to a remarkable 34 goals for the campaign.

For context: no Sunderland player has scored 24 goals in the league since Darren Bent in 09/10, and no player has hit 30 goals since Super Kevin Phillips' super season in 99/00.

2. The best in Scotland are after him

Considering the previous, it is perhaps not a surprise that Scotland's best are after him.

Rangers and Celtic are both lining up the player, but Sunderland allegedly remain in the ascendancy, with promises over first team football making them a more attractive prospect.

3. Sunderland strikers have struggled to score since Maja's departure

After Maja left for Bordeaux in January, Sunderland's strikers have really failed to get going.

You know when Lee Cattermole has scored more than the rest of the remaining candidates, then it's an area that the club will have to look at improving.

Charlie Wyke scored four goals all season, while January flop Will Grigg also scored four.

Wyke was preferred to Grigg for the latter stages of the campaign, which could be worrying for the club after thet paid a reported £4million for the ex-Wigan centre forward.

While Grigg's stats have been hampered by him struggling to get to full fitness, that only reinforces the idea that they need more attacking options - he has not been able to fit the Josh Maja sized hole.

4. He won't cost a penny

After splashing a hefty fee on Will Grigg, Sunderland will be looking to do as much shrewd business as possible this summer.

With Shankland's contract expiring at the end of the season, this means that Sunderland will be able to pick up the player for free.

5. The gaffer has backed him to do well at a 'very big club'

Ayr United boss, Ian McCall, has backed Shankland's mentality and has said he has what it takes to make it at a big club.

He also gave some inclination as to where the Scot might end up next season, by hinting at the clubs interested in him.

He told BBC Scotland: "There may be the option of a very, very big club, but would he play there every week, to take that next step and kick on again?

"One of them, it's a club in Scotland and you need to be really mentally strong. That's something I think Lawrence has, but the only way you find that is if you go through it.

"You can't predict that, it's something you have to live through to find out if you have it.

“There are a couple of pretty sizeable clubs in England where I’m pretty sure he would play. One in particular would suit him – a sleeping giant type club. He has three now to choose from."