Preston North End are once again being linked with a move to sign Morecambe striker Cole Stockton as Ryan Lowe eyes new additions.
Football Insider reported back in January that North End were looking into the possibility of signing Stockton.
No deal materialised with Cameron Archer the only striking addition for Preston during the January window.
That hasn’t stopped the rumours though with Football Insider again reporting that North End want to sign Stockton this summer.
Peterborough United, Portsmouth, Rotherham United and Wycombe Wanderers are also thought to be keen on Stockton.
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Preston are likely to be in the market for a new striker this summer but whether Stockton is the right player is another matter.
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Stockton has fared well for Morecambe and has smashed 25 goals in 46 games this season.
Add in that Stockton actually played with boss Ryan Lowe at Tranmere Rovers in the 2013-14 season and maybe this rumour makes some sense.
Yet you have to look at Stockton’s whole career. Only twice has he ever hit double figures for goals – and they have come in the last two seasons at Morecambe.
Stockton is 28 and there will be no resale value should Preston swoop for him this summer. With another year left on his contract, North End would have to pay a fee for Stockton.
On too many occasions in recent years, Preston have signed players who don’t improve the first team and don’t have resale value.
You end up with players whose values decline as they fail to make an impact at Preston, creating a diluted squad and a need to spend more to then replace them.
Stockton may be another signing of that ilk, as he has never played above League One and has limited goalscoring success away from Morecambe throughout his career.
To put it simply, Preston have to get their next striker signing right.
Loanee Archer is heading back to Villa and may not return. Ched Evans and Seani Maguire offer plenty with their all-round games, but are hardly prolific.
Preston cannot afford to carry a third striker who doesn’t score regularly and backing Stockton to thrive in the Championship sounds like a gamble.