Former Preston North End winger Josh Ginnelly is set to return to the Championship with numerous reports including BBC suggesting Swansea City have won the race for his signature.
The 26-year-old is out of contract after rejecting a new deal with Heart of Midlothian. Ginnelly joined Hearts on loan from Preston in September 2020 before making the permanent move the year after.
In just under three years with the Edinburgh club he made 89 appearances scoring 22 goals. Last year he particularly shone and struck a great partnership up front with Lawrence Shankland. They helped Hearts finish fourth in the Scottish Premier League, enabling them to enter the Europa Conference League qualification rounds next season.
Ginnelly’s 12 goals in just 26 starts last season, caught the eye if quite a few suitors. Whilst it looks like Swansea have won the race, Sky Sports News have suggested Birmingham City, Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall were also interested in the former Walsall player.
Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv who appointed Robbie Keane as their manager recently were also thought to be keen on Ginnelly.
A move to Swansea will represent a return to this level of English football for the first time since leaving Preston North End. He will be eager to test himself at this level after never having a fair shot under Alex Neil.
Ginnelly joined Preston in January 2019 after an impressive half season with Walsall in League One. In the next year the winger only played six games in the Championship totalling 60 minutes. Not one of them came as a start although he was granted starts in the cup competitions.
Either way he wasn’t really given a fair opportunity at Preston and after loan moves to Bristol Rovers and Hearts the latter had seen enough to want to sign him on a permanent basis.
Ginnelly has some pace and flair, something which the current Preston squad is lacking in heavily. Hearts did play him as part of a front two as well, and someone with that attacking versatility would be key for the Preston squad at this stage. Considering it’s only two years ago he left the club, it could have been worth actually playing him and keeping him round the place.
The fact so many Championship clubs were reportedly keen to sign him says a lot. Whilst moving from the Scottish Premier League to the second tier in England isn’t always a smooth transition, it looks like a sensible signing for Swansea.
The Swans only recently appointed Michael Duff after Southampton had poached their previous manager Russell Martin. Duff took Barnsley to the League One play-offs last season.