Preston North End are in talks to snap up young Liverpool striker Layton Stewart either on loan or permanently.
Will Keane added to PNE’s attacking ranks last week in a cut-price move from Wigan Athletic.
Yet with Ched Evans and Emil Riis still on their way back from injuries, North End are going back into the market again.
Ryan Lowe is now closing in on signing a 20-year-old Liverpudlian striker from a Premier League club.
No, not Everton’s Tom Cannon but rather Liverpool youngster Layton Stewart.
The Liverpool Echo report that PNE are in talks with Liverpool over a deal to sign Stewart.
The deal is currently being centred around a permanent move though a loan switch is still under consideration.
Stewart was pulled out of the Liverpool under-21 squad for a friendly against Kidderminster Harriers on Friday evening as a result.
That would suggest that Stewart to PNE is moving forward quickly and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him attend North End’s friendly with Aberdeen today.
Stewart has recently been linked with bitter rivals Blackpool but PNE are now moving in to try and strike a deal.
Who is PNE target Layton Stewart?
Stewart hails from Stockbridge Village, just outside of Knowsley.
A boyhood Liverpool fan, Stewart did actually have trials with Everton as a kid but joined Liverpool at the age of just seven.
Stewart has been in the Liverpool ranks ever since and was receiving lofty comparisons.
The Athletic noted comparisons to Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen and Fernando Torres as Stewart was making his way as a teenager.
Disaster struck for Stewart in March 2021 as he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury, ruling him out for over a year.
Stewart has hit the goal trail again since his return though and Goal noted in April that he had hit 18 goals in 20 games last season.
Now approaching 21, Stewart may well be tempted to give up on his Liverpool dream and go out to play senior football.
Stewart hasn’t been out on loan yet but was given a senior debut for Liverpool against Derby County back in November.
Ryan Lowe has got the best out of two young strikers in Cameron Archer and Tom Cannon during his time at PNE, so let’s hope Stewart follows in their footsteps if this deal gets done.