Preston North End are being linked with a shock move for Marseille talent Konrad De La Fuente ahead of the transfer deadline.
French website Foot Mercato report that PNE are in the mix to land De La Fuente from Marseille.
It’s stated that Dutch sides Utrecht and AZ Alkmaar are both pushing to sign De La Fuente but face surprise competition from North End.
De La Fuente is currently on loan at Olympiacos but has endured a difficult season in Greece.
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The 21-year-old has made just three league appearance totalling 151 minutes, with a return to Marseille expected.
The Ligue 1 side are trying to find a new home for De La Fuente first though and PNE appear to be an unexpected candidate.
We would assume that this would be a loan deal, given that the wide man woulds surely be beyond North End financially in a permanent move.
We’re used to some odd rumours linking PNE with players on the continent; Ibrahima Kone and Antonios Papadopoulos spring to mind from last summer.
De La Fuente fits a similar kind of bill, but Ryan Lowe has spoken about adding an attacking talent who can play out wide.
Who is PNE target Konrad De La Fuente?
De La Fuente was born in Miami but left Florida at the age of 10 as his father landed a job at the Haitian consulate in Barcelona.
Local side Damm gave De La Fuente a change and his potential saw Barcelona strike a deal to sign him in 2013.
The winger turned out 29 times for Barcelona B, racking up nine goals and five assists.
First-team minutes were hard to come by though and he made just three senior appearances for Barcelona.
Marseille pounced in 2021, taking De La Fuente to France as they believed he could be a star of the future.
De La Fuente has played 23 times for Marseille, notching one goal and three assists before heading on loan to Olympiacos.
De La Fuente also has three caps for the United States on the international stage and will be desperate to impress after a disappointing spell in Greece.
Describing himself as ‘fast’ and a good dribbler, De La Fuente could be something completely different for North End if this surprise move materialises.