PNE knock back speculation linking Louis Moult with a loan move to Aberdeen

The Dons are reported to be interested in Moult as they seek a replacement for Adam Rooney who joined Salford City last week.

But as yet there has been no contact from them about Moult and it is likely that the striker’s wages at Deepdale would put him beyond the Pittodrie club’s reach.

Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes was at Deepdale on Monday night to watch North End’s friendly with Burnley.

That was more due to the fact the Dons host Burnley on Thursday night in the Europa League.

Moult was a 72nd-minute substitute against Burnley, having played 77 minutes of the West Ham game.

At the moment Preston are looking to add to their attack rather than lighten it and have no plans to let Moult go.

He only arrived in January in a £450,000 switch from Motherwell and did take time to settle in during the second half of last season.

But having been given the No.9 shirt by PNE and with a pre-season under his belt, better is expected from him in 2018/19. Aberdeen’s interest in Moult pre-dates his arrival at Deepdale, the Dons having been linked with him during his time at Motherwell.

Another PNE striker who the Dons have an interest in is Eoin Doyle.

Reports in the Irish media say Dublin-born Doyle has turned down a move to the Scottish outfit, a fee having been agreed with North End.

Peterborough also had an interest in the Irishman but again he was not keen on a move out of the area.

Doyle has not featured in a competitive game for PNE since January 2017.

He has had loan spells at Portsmouth and Oldham in the last couple of seasons and North End are looking to sell him during the final year of his contract.

The 30-year-old has not featured in any of the friendly games in pre-season.

While Marnick Vermijl, Ben Pringle, Kevin O’Connor and Andy Boyle played in a PNE academy XI at Colne last Wednesday, injury kept Doyle on the sidelines.

North End are looking to move all of those players on, either permanently or on loan before the transfer deadline.

There have been enquiries about them but nothing solid.

Vermijl, Pringle, O’Connor and Boyle spent the second half of last season out on loan in League One and are not in Alex Neil’s plans this term.