Preston are interested in Lorient striker Ibrahima Kone with a surprise link emerging over in France ahead of the transfer deadline.
Ryan Lowe had pretty much signalled the end of North End’s transfer window earlier today, believing nothing would be happening in terms of incomings.
Josh Harrop’s contract has been terminated and Mikey O’Neill could be off on loan to Grimsby, so maybe there is room for an incoming after all.
North End fans aren’t expecting much but rumours in France have suddenly grabbed interest once again.
French newspaper Ouest-France report that Preston have made an offer for Lorient striker Ibrahima Kone.
This has come out of absolutely nowhere but it feels almost too random to be made up, and Ouest-France is a good source over in France.
Preston fans are now wondering; who on earth is Ibrahima Kone?
Well, the 23-year-old started out in Bamako in Mali before being snapped up by Norwegian side Haugesund in 2018.
12 goals in 64 games over in Norway doesn’t sound all that impressive, and neither does no goals in five games for Adana Demirspor.
However, Kone started to find form with Sarpsborg, another Norwegian club, and hit 11 goals in 27 outings.
Lorient saw enough to take him to France’s top flight in January of this year, and he bagged five goals in 16 appearances.
This season, Kone has only played 51 minutes across four substitute appearances, and that may be why North End think a deal is possible.
Kone is a Mali international and his record is pretty impressive; 11 goals in 14 caps for the African nation.
A physical threat at 6ft 3in, Kone could provide a real upgrade on Ched Evans if a late deal can somehow be pulled off.
There is another question we can imagine fans are asking; would Kone qualify for a work permit?
We saw a deal for Spanish left wing back Xavi Quintilla fall through earlier this summer because a work permit wasn’t possible.
We ran Kone’s name through the Governing Body Endorsement calculator and that suggests that Kone would indeed qualify for a work permit.
Playing regularly for his country and featuring for a top-flight team in France means there should be no problems on that front.
This one has come out of left field and if North End can land an exciting international striker in the coming hours, the low mood around the fanbase could be lifted.