Middlesbrough have now given up on signing Emil Riis after Preston demanded around £10million for his signature.
Whilst it has gone worryingly quiet in terms of potential incomings at Deepdale, one potential departure has dominated discussions.
Striker Riis was always bound to attract interest after scoring 20 goals last season, and that interest arrived earlier this month.
After failing to sign Groningen striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, Middlesbrough switched their attention towards Riis.
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The Northern Echo noted that Middlesbrough had ‘held discussions’ over a deal to sign Riis this month.
Danish newspaper BT added on Monday that a £7.5million bid had been submitted to Preston by an unnamed English club.
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Whilst we assumed that offer came from Middlesbrough, Preston have closed the door on Riis potentially leaving before Thursday’s deadline.
North End boss Ryan Lowe has publicly stated that Riis is not leaving and Preston won’t be selling anybody before the window shuts.
There is now more news as Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett claims that Boro have now ‘given up’ on signing Riis this week.
Dorsett states that Preston demanded £10million for Riis and Middlesbrough have decided to back away and look for other strikers.
Chris Wilder loves signing a striker and Boro have already landed three this summer in Marcus Forss, Matthew Hoppe and Rodrigo Muniz.
Verdict
Fair play to Preston for standing firm here.
Turning a £1.2million signing into a big sale would have been very appealing, but Preston stuck to their guns and wouldn’t take less than £10million.
We have seen North End sell before the deadline in years gone by, with Jordan Hugill moving to West Ham United hours before the window closed in January 2018.
Hugill wasn’t really replaced back then and Preston missed out on the playoffs by just a couple of points.
North End fans had real fears that Riis would be sold before the deadline and not replaced, but Preston have refused to sell.
Riis must now look to get back into scoring form having made a slow start to the season.
The Dane is still waiting for his first league goal of the campaign and has been on the bench for North End’s last four league games.
A transfer isn’t happening now and hopefully Riis can put this speculation behind him and start finding the net again – starting with Wednesday’s trip to Coventry City.