Preston North End forward Will Keane featured for the Lancashire side in a recent friendly against Tranmere Rovers. Keane is being targeted by a League One club this summer, and he could depart the club.
Preston, who have announced the signing of former Sheffield Wednesday forward Michael Smith, could soon allow Manchester United academy product Keane to leave Deepdale.
The attacker has caught the interest of League One side Bolton Wanderers as they look to challenge for a return to the Championship.
Keane Wanted by Bolton Wanderers
Alan Nixon on his Patreon shared that Bolton are interested in signing Keane this summer and the side have money to spend after selling George Thomason.
Nixon also reported that Keane featured in Preston’s shock friendly defeat to League Two Tranmere. Keane played 45 minutes in the 2-0 defeat.
Keane’s Recent Performances
The former Wigan Athletic forward struggled to maintain a starting position last season for Preston. He started just 13 of his 27 Championship appearances, averaging 42 minutes per game and playing a total of 1144 minutes.
He received a 6.62 average rating from Sofascore for his performances in the league last season. His low average rating wouldn’t have been helped by Keane scoring just three goals and registering no assists.
As his three goals suggest, the 32-year-old struggled to make an impact in front of goal. He had just 0.5 shots per game and 0.1 shots on target per game.
This is a stark comparison to the 2023/24 season. In that season, Keane started 32 of his 38 appearances, scoring 13 goals and grabbing three assists. He also had 1.1 shots per game and 0.5 shots on target per game.
Would This Be a Good Move for Bolton and Keane?
With Smith signing for Preston, Keane is likely to fall even further down the pecking order.
A move to Bolton could offer him a chance to get first-team minutes, in a team that’s expecting to challenge for the League One play-offs at the very least.
For Bolton, the move also makes sense. Keane is experienced in League One, scoring 39 goals in 99 games, a goal every 184 minutes.
In his last League One campaign, Keane scored 26 goals in 44 appearances for Wigan Athletic.
If Bolton can help Keane rediscover that form, he could be a crucial part of their push for promotion this season.
