When Alex Neil wanted a playmaker in the summer of 2018, Graham Burke wasn’t exactly a name he had on his wish list.
Kasey Palmer and Bersant Celina were a couple of the names Neil fancied, but Preston engineered a £250,000 move for Burke instead.
Formerly of Aston Villa, Burke had failed to make an impact with Notts County before suddenly starring with Shamrock Rovers in the League of Ireland.
Having previously landed Andy Boyle, Daryl Horgan, Alan Browne, Seani Maguire and Kevin O’Connor from Irish football, North End had another go with Burke – but it proved to be a terrible move.
Burke only managed 15 games for Preston, scoring two goals, and his final appearance for the club came against Doncaster Rovers in January 2019.
The 27-year-old has been on loan with Gillingham and back at Shamrock since then, and more than two years since he last played for Preston, his time at Deepdale is over.
Shamrock Rovers have confirmed that Burke has signed a pre-contract agreement to join them for free this summer, penning a three-year deal.
It’s best for all parties; Burke is a forgotten man at Preston and certainly won’t be back in the plans any time soon, so tying his future to Rovers – where he is loved and valued – seems ideal for the playmaker.