The winger was heavily linked with a move away from Fir Park but the club stood firm
16:13, 12 Feb 2026Updated 19:55, 12 Feb 2026
Tawanda Maswanhise
Forward Tawanda Maswanhise insists he was only focussed on Motherwell amid major interest in the January window.
The Premiership’s top scorer was touted with a move to Celtic after Martin O’Neill was among those who watched the 23-year-old impress again at Fir Park last month. Rangers were also named as a potential destination while Anderlecht tested the resolve of the Steelmen on deadline day.
But boss Jens Berthel Askou insisted that Well had no need to sell their star man mid-season after the summer sale of Lennon Miller – and repeatedly insisted the club would not cash in on the Zimbabwe international. The attacker will be a Motherwell player until at least the end of this season – and insists he wasn’t focussing on his future amid the speculation.
He told Sky Sports after being named January’s Premiership Player of the Month: “Honestly, I knew there was going to be speculation from clubs in and around the country – but I had my head down. You’ve just got to play football.
“Let the football do the talking, everyone’s heard that saying. I’ve done that really well in January, and I’ve just got to carry on.”
Pressed on if he expected to hold talks about his future at the end of the season, he conceded European football could be a deciding factor: “Obviously, I always like to say I want to go to the next step. I want to play European football.
“This club is on the way to completing that. Hopefully, we do get European football next season. Like I always said, at the start of the season, I want to get my head down week by week.
SPFL William Hill Premiership Player of the month for January Motherwell Tawanda Maswanhise(Image: Jeff Holmes JSHPIX)
“I don’t like to think too far ahead in the season because I get affected by my performances.
“It wasn’t difficult (dealing with speculation in January), but there was a lot of noise here and there. I did manage to keep my head focused game by game.”
The wide man helped his side rescue a 1-1 draw against Rangers on Tuesday night and believes that his side should not be ruled out of a surprise title tilt – despite trailing league leaders Hearts by 13 points.
He added: “You’ve seen it yesterday with one man down, every man on that pitch for Motherwell, including myself, we fought really hard to get the point that we deserved.
“We’ve been doing the same style of play the whole season, you’re starting to see more results now. You’re starting to see more success, we’re getting our plaudits. It has been good.
“A lot of people, a lot of players want to say it’s a three-horse race right now, but we’re still behind it.
“I genuinely think we can nick a few points and be in and around it. So, just watch out for us and we should crack on.”
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