Preston North End face a real battle for Max Johnston with the Motherwell talent now attracting interest from a club in Serie A.

Some PNE fans may not be too familiar with Johnston but he is believed to be on North End’s summer wish list.

Scottish newspaper The Daily Record reported last month that PNE were ramping up their interest in signing Johnston.

Luton Town and Sheffield United were mentioned in that race too but the list of interested clubs just keeps on growing.

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The Scottish Sun claim that Brighton and Hove Albion as well as Cardiff have scouted Johnston.

Now it’s Bologna being linked with the Corriere dello Sport claiming that a move to Italy could be on the cards.

They suggest that a deal is ‘in the pipeline’ and Bologna already have an agreement on compensation with Motherwell.

Bologna have been looking towards the Scottish market in recent times.

The Serie A side snapped up Aaron Hickey from Hearts back in 2020 before selling him to Brentford last summer.

Bologna struck again in 2022, taking Aberdeen midfielder Lewis Ferguson to Italy.

Bologna FC v FC Internazionale - Serie A
Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images

With positive results from those two deals, Bologna are now looking again with a deal for Johnston wanted.

The 19-year-old has broken into the Motherwell side this year and has turned in impressive displays as a right wing back.

That’s a position PNE really need to solve moving forward, even if Ryan Lowe keeps suggesting he is happy with his options there.

Johnston – the son of former Rangers winger Allan Johnston – is a man in demand ahead of his contract expiring.

PNE may have hopes of landing a talent for the future in Johnston, especially in a real position of need.

Beating a Serie A side won’t be easy though and with Bologna allegedly closing in, North End may have to look elsewhere.

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