The striker was signed from Port Vale for £1.1million last summer

Preston North End are one of the three latest clubs to be linked with Plymouth Argyle striker Lorent Tolaj.

The Swiss forward, 24, joined the Pilgrims last August and has scored 20 goals in 34 games across all competitions - while providing seven assists. The Pilgrims activated a £1.1million release clause to sign Tolaj from Port Vale. He is under contract at Home Park until 2029.

Tolaj came through the ranks at Brighton and had loan spells at Cambridge, Salford and Dundee, before his 2023 release. Aldershot snapped him up and after 21 goals there, he was snapped up by Vale.

The goal contributions continued, with 16 goals and nine assists for the Valiants before Plymouth swooped in. Speculation around Tolaj has not been in short supply, with Stoke, Norwich, Swansea, Celtic and Belgian outfit Anderlecht previously linked.

Now, journalist Alan Nixon has credited PNE, Sheffield United and relegated Leicester City with interest in the striker. Pilgrims boss Tom Cleverley recently said he anticipates interest and that Tolaj is the type who will ‘cost a lot of money’.

He said: "What is separating Tolly from a lot of people at this level is those moments. If you have got a player in your ranks that can turn a draw into a win, yeah, people will have to pay a lot of money for him.”

Meanwhile, chairman Simon Hallet stressed - in an interview with Plymouth Live - that the club does not need to sell anyone this summer.

He said: "We have value on the balance sheet so at some point we will get the right offer for a player, but we literally have been over the budgets today and there is nothing in the budgets for player sales... nothing.

"Just make that absolutely clear, but as ever if the right bid comes along for any player we will sell them. Now we are lucky that a number of our more valuable players have long contracts, which means we don't have to sell."