Football
Exclusive: Blackburn and Sheffield United in Race to Sign Released Preston Striker Emil Riis
Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United are interested in signing Preston's released hitman Emil Riis on a free transfer. The Denmark international striker scored 12 goals last season but was let go by Preston. Riis is now seeking a new club, with multiple teams vying for his signature.
Preston North End FC v Plymouth Argyle FC - Sky Bet Championship by Alex Dodd - CameraSport | Getty Images
Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United are both keen to sign former Preston hitman Emil Riis when his deal expires at the end of June, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
Stoke City and Coventry City have also been keeping tabs on the Denmark international striker after he was surprisingly released by the Lilywhites this summer.
Riis, 27, impressed with 12 goals last season for the Lancashire club but has still found himself surplus to requirements at Deepdale.
And both Rovers and the Blades have wasted no time in initialising talks about a permanent deal.
Wanted Riis has played five seasons for Preston in the second tier – and in his second season netted 16 goals in a campaign to savour.
But the next two seasons he failed to register double figures before a return to form last season.
Preston were happy for the centre-forward to leave alongside midfielder Ryan Ledson, goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and German defender Patrick Bauer.
Ledson wasted no time in joining League One Huddersfield Town following his Deepdale departure, while shot-stopper Woodman has been linked with a shock move to Manchester United.
Bauer has yet to find a new club following his exit after six years with the club.
WANTED MAN
Riis, too, has yet to sign for a new club and is keen to find a new club ahead of next season, with clubs now clambering for his signature.
Capped five times by his country, the proven goalscorer joined the Lilywhites from Danish club Randers in October 2020 and over five seasons scored 46 goals in 186 games for the club.
And his goals last season helped the club avoid an embarrassing relegation to the third tier, with Preston having finished just two places above the dreaded drop-zone.
But despite finishing as the club’s top-scorer last season, Lilywhites boss Paul Heckingbottom is keen to freshen his squad with new talent.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.