Reports: Preston North End linked with 20-year-old striker along with handful of clubs
The January transfer window is not too far away
Preston North End are one of several clubs to be linked with striker Jalal Abdullai.
The Ghanaian forward, 20, is on loan at Norwegian club Molde, from Swedish outfit Elfsborg. He has scored four goals in 20 appearances for the Eliteserien side, having managed 12 in 52 outings for his parent club. Abdullai has been there since the summer of 2023.
He was fast-tracked from training with the U19s to senior squad, before being bought on a permanent deal. Now, according to Swedish outlet Expressen, Abdullai is attracting interest from PNE and fellow Championship club Middlesbrough. European clubs Genk, Anderlecht, Copenhagen and Midtjylland have also been named as admirers.
Molde are said to have an option-to-buy Abdullai at the end of the season. His contract at Elfsborg - the same club Preston bought Jeppe Okkels from - runs until the summer of 2028. In the 2024/25 season, Abdullai made five appearances in the Europa League, including two games against Tottenham, Roma and Galatasaray.
The Norwegian league has just finished for Molde, while the Swedish campaign concluded in early November. As far as North End are concerned in the upcoming transfer window, manager Paul Heckingbottom has already outlined his wish to add in January and suggested he would like to make attacking additions if possible.
On paper, Preston are not overly short of forward players at present. North End will welcome Milutin Osmajic back from his ban at the end of December, while Daniel Jebbison and Lewis Dobbin are on loan for the season. Michael Smith has kept himself fit all campaign and Will Keane has returned to the PNE squad of late, though not featured.