Exclusive: Preston North End Join Race to Sign Wanted Celtic Striker Johnny Kenny For £1million

Preston North End are in the market to sign Celtic striker Johnny Kenny for £1milllion, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The Lilywhites are desperate for more firepower up top after letting experienced Danish striker Emil Riis leave on a free transfer this week.

And with long-serving hitman Ched Evans joining the club’s coaching staff, manager Paul Heckingbottom is keen to give himself more attacking options ahead of next season.

Riis, who scored 46 goals in 186 games for the Lilywhites, was a number of high-profile departures from Deepdale this month with keeper Freddie Woodman having left and subsequently joined Premier League champions Liverpool.

And long-serving midfielder Ryan Ledson also left Lancashire and was immediately snapped up by Huddersfield Town.

Preston operate on one of the tightest budgets in the Championship but have funds to strengthen this summer after freeing up their wage budget.

And our sources have learnt that sought-after Kenny, who is also wanted by League One Bolton Wanderers, as they look to win promotion to the second-tier next season.

NEW SIGNINGS

Heckingbottom has already swooped to sign winger Jordan Thompson on a two-year deal this summer, as well as England under-20 left-back Thierry Small, Spanish right-back Pol Valentin and Canada international forward Daniel Jebbison on a season-long loan from Premier League Bournemouth.

Midfielder Robbie Brady has signed a new contract to stay for another year and shot-stopper Daniel Iversen on a permanent following his release.

Will Keane and Milutin Osmajic are the club’s frontline strikers, but Heckingbottom is keen for more options as the club look to challenge for a play-off position next season.

Former Republic of Ireland international Kenny has played just seven games for the Hoops since signing for the club on a five-year deal in 2022.

He has spent much of his fledgling career on loan with Queen’s Park and more recently Shamrock Rovers, where he scored 18 goals in 59 appearances for the League of Ireland Premier Division side.