RUMOURS that prolific Ayr United striker Lawrence Shankland was destined for a big-money move to English Championship side Swansea City were scotched this week by boss Ian McCall.

An online tabloid on Monday suggested that Swansea were closing in on a deal for Shankland, but that he would be loaned out to the Honest Men until the end of the season. He has a trial with the Welsh club before joining Ayr last season.

The talented former Aberdeen striker scored four goals in the 5-0 demolition of Dundee United at Tannadice on Friday, has averaged more than a goal a game, bulging the net 26 times in the last 23 games. Rangers and Sunderland are also thought to be tracking the striker.

But manager Ian McCall said: "I can tell you that no deal has done. Obviously we would love to hold on to Lawrence but there will be interest in him and two or three other players in the next month or so."

The player himself said: "Whatever happens next month happens. If anything comes in we'll speak about it but I won't get caught up too much in it."

Shankland meanwhile insists his team are top of the Championship on merit.

He said: "This shows what we've got. A team winning by five goals at Tannadice is virtually unheard of. Some people were maybe thinking we'd fluked our way to the top of the table. But if you're still top at this stage of the season then you're obviously not a bad side."

McCall was highly impressed with his team's display and added: "We were absolutely magnificent and we had 11 players although Ross Doohan did not have a lot to do, everything he did was just fantastic The 10 outfield players were magnificent and when you have that amount of players at the top of their game you win games. At half-time we could have been 4-0 or 5-0 up.

"They put us under a wee bit of pressure after the break but after that it was a matter of just how many. Declan McDaid was absolutely magnificent in the first half, that's the best he has ever played for me. It was a great night for our club."

However the boss is not getting carried away as United host Inverness Caley Thistle in another live TV game on Friday night.

He said: "We are still seven points away from 40, which we need for safety. It will be a tough three points on Friday, but we will be looking to take them. Hopefully we will get a good crowd."

United will be boosted by the news that striker Craig Moore returns to the squad after serving a two-match suspension.