PNE deals in pipeline

One potential recruit came into the public domain last weekend when Grayson was spotted in Dublin watching Cork striker Sean McGuire in action against St Patrick’s.

That was the first time he had seen McGuire in a live game and North End will now weigh up whether to take the interest further.

Reports in Ireland suggest there is a £150,000 buy-out clause in the player’s contract.

With regards the general recruitment to be done in the coming months, Grayson said: “We are talking to agents about deals for the summer and we will continue to do that.

“Without a shadow of doubt we are going to have new players at the club who will hopefully improve us and take us to another level.

“Other players will leave the club – that is football.

“It depends on the budget and what we have to spend.

“I have a rough idea of what we are going to need, I’m not going to say what because I might ask for more!

“I think things will evolve over different stages of the summer, like it did last year.

“We got a few in quite early, let things settle down and then did a bit more.”

After landing Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle in January, it is not a surprise to see Preston back scouting in Ireland.

McGuire has been in good form for Cork since the League of Ireland season kicked off in February, netting eight goals.

He spent two seasons with West Ham, during which the front man had a loan spell at Accrington Stanley.

Said Grayson: “It is pretty public knowledge that I went to Dublin at the weekend with Peter Ridsdale.

“We know quite a bit about the player and this was a good chance to watch him live with us not playing until Monday.

“Time will tell if we decide to pursue it anymore.

“He is a decent player, his goals tally will tell you that.

“Sometimes players come to England, it doesn’t work out, they go back to Ireland but then it suddenly clicks.

“The fact we have Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle shows we are not frightened to go to that level.

“We watch players many times before making decisions and I’d not had the chance to see McGuire before.”

Should PNE choose to firm up their interest in McGuire, something in their favour would be the fact they have previously shopped in Ireland.

“The Irish contingent would be a selling point,” said Grayson.

“If we were looking to bring McGuire in or any other player from the Irish League, they will see it as an opportunity to play and that the other lads would help them settle in.”