According to the Daily Mail, Preston want to sign Wigan Athletic striker Kieffer Moore this summer.
It’s claimed that Wigan are trying to avoid a fire sale, but interest is mounting in a number of their players.
Jamal Lowe is wanted by Celtic, Cardiff City and Millwall, West Ham United want Cedric Kipre, and Tottenham want Alfire Devine and Joe Gelhardt.
With the Latics facing administration, they may need to sell – and Preston may attempt a raid on their North West rivals too.
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It’s stated that Preston want Moore, two years since he was first linked with a move to the club from Barnsley.
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The Sun’s Alan Nixon claimed in 2018 that North End wanted to land Moore, but were unwilling to meet Barnsley’s £2million price tag; a deal that would have been a club record for Preston.
Wigan ended up landing him a year later, paying around £3million. Moore had racked up 19 goals for Barnsley last season, hence his price tag rising.
Moore is Wigan’s top scorer this season with nine goals, whilst he has also contributed four assists too. He has even become a Welsh international regular, notching two goals in five games for his adopted nation.
Since the rumours first emerged two years ago, I’ve made little secret of my belief that Moore is what Alex Neil really wants up top.
He’s a huge physical presence at 6ft 5in tall, but he also possesses the athleticism and mobility that North End have lacked up top since Jordan Hugill’s departure.
His goal record in the Championship maybe isn’t stellar, but it’s certainly better than what we have right now, and his fit for Neil’s setup is pretty much ideal.
Moore turns 28 this summer, and may fit what Neil wanted last summer; proven Championship players that can instantly make North End better.
Preston have shown they are ready to pounce for players from financially-struggling clubs. North End raided Morecambe for Tom Barkhuizen in 2016, and then Connor Simpson from Hartlepool United in 2018.
Both clubs needed cash, and Preston pounced for their young talents in bargain moves. Peter Ridsdale and co may now feel they can work a similar deal with Wigan, and whilst Moore would still be more expensive than those two combined, there could be an opportunity for North End to finally land their man.