Preston may well be in the market for a new striker in January, but Kabongo Tshimanga won’t have been a name on the wish lists of many fans.
North End have seen Jayden Stockley impress lately, whilst David Nugent offers a veteran presence up top too. Yet with Seani Maguire, Tom Barkhuizen and Billy Bodin better out wide and Louis Moult out for the season, another goalscorer could give Preston an edge in the promotion race.
Fans may want a proven goalscorer with that in mind, but Preston have now been linked with a player currently in the fifth tier of English football.
Football League World claim that Preston are in the race to sign Boreham Wood striker Tshimanga, who is relative unknown at the age of 22.
Tshimanga was born in DR Congo but came up through the ranks with MK Dons, where he scored once in 13 appearances. Loan spells with Aldershot Town, Chelmsford City, Corby Town, Nuneaton Town, Chesham United, Throttur Reykjavik and Yeovil Town didn’t really help Tshimanaga establish himself, and he left permanently for Boston United in 2017.
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His nomadic career has continued, as he joined Oxford City after a 12-goal season with Boston, and smashed 29 goals in the sixth tier last season to get himself a move to Boreham Wood.
With 11 goals in 20 games this season, Tshimanga is turning heads. Preston are believed to be keen, with Huddersfield Town pursuing him too ahead of the January transfer window.
There have been real non-league success stories over the years, with fellow strikers like Jamie Vardy, Charlie Austin, Gary Hooper and Jermaine Beckford making the step up.
Still, this feels like a real gamble, even if it fits into Preston’s usual plan of signing lower league youngsters. Tshimanga has no record of success above the National League, and expecting him to contribute in the Championship could be risky.