KRC Genk striker 'close to finalising' loan transfer to Preston North End - reports
Reports from Sweden have emerged around PNE’s striker search
Preston North End are reportedly close to signing Jusef Erabi on loan from KRC Genk.
The Lancashire Post revealed over the weekend that a striker, from outside England, was set for a medical at Deepdale - ahead of a loan-to-buy move. It now appears that man is the 23-year-old Swedish forward, Erabi.
Belgian outfit Genk signed him last summer, from Hammarby, for a reported fee in the region of £3.5million. Erabi scored on debut but went on to struggle for game time, with 22 appearances made over the course of the campaign.
He scored 29 goals in 99 appearances for Swedish side Hammarby and did make five substitute appearances in the Europa League, for Genk. He was limited to four starts and 516 minutes in total.
Erabi penned a four-year contract in Belgium and has represented Sweden at Under-19 and Under-21 level. Last August, Millwall came close to signing Erabi while Leicester City and Swansea City were also linked with him.
North End have announced the departure of Michael Smith to Mansfield Town, leaving Milutin Osmajic as the only out-and-out striker in Paul Heckingbottom’s squad. Callum Lang would have been next in line after the Montenegrin.