Preston North End planning late swoop for Middlesbrough striker | OneFootball

Josh Coburn is of interest to Paul Heckingbottom's new chargers

Preston North End are eyeing up a deal which could bring Middlesbrough's Josh Coburn to Deepdale.

That is according to a fresh report from Football Insider, who claim that Paul Heckingbottom's new side have targeted the Boro academy graduate as they look to bolster their own attacking options in what remains of the transfer window.

All of North End's signings so far this summer came while Ryan Lowe was still in charge prior to the shock timing of his mutually agreed departure after the opening day defeat to Sheffield United, leaving Heckingbottom with limited time to start stamping his own authority when it comes to transfer business in this part of Lancashire after winning his first two games in charge against Luton and Harrogate Town.

There are still a number of natural and experienced centre-forwards on the club's books at this moment in time, but it would seem that the former Blades boss is looking to head in a different direction as they eye up this latest transfer raid.

Referring back to the fresh report from Football Insider on Thursday morning, it is believed that the Lilywhites are working on a deal to acquire Coburn from their Championship rivals, with Heckingbottom said to be a big admirer of the 21-year-old forward.

Middlesbrough have made their own acquisitions in the striking department across the summer as they made the well-documented signing of Tommy Conway from Bristol City, which has pushed the former Bristol Rovers loanee down Michael Carrick's pecking order, making two of his four appearances so far this campaign in the EFL Cup against Leeds United - in which he scored and assisted - as well as Tuesday's 5-0 second round defeat to Stoke City at the Riverside Stadium.

This latest update also hints that a number of other sides have the striker on their radar, as it was reported earlier in the month that Millwall were monitoring Coburn's situation in the North East ahead of making their own potential approach.

So far in his senior career, the 21-year-old has made 56 senior appearances for Boro and netted on 12 occasions, with his most notable strike coming back in the 2021/22 campaign with a 107th minute winner against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup Fifth Round.

Last season saw Coburn score five times in 21 Championship appearances as he looks to establish himself as a regular feature in the second tier, which looks more likely to come through a departure from the North East.

Josh Coburn would be an interesting addition for Preston North End

Given that the young centre-forward has made an impression on Heckingbottom in the infancy of his career, this is definitely an interesting avenue which Preston are looking to go down given the abundance of senior attackers already at Deepdale.

Will Keane has been of interest to an abundance of sides and seen a £750,000 bid from Wrexham turned down for his signature, whilst Milutin Osmajic returned to his best in midweek with a hat-trick in the 5-0 rout over Harrogate, as he looks to build on a tally of eight goals from last campaign.

Given the fact Coburn is under contract with Boro until 2027 means that a permanent deal would involve somewhat of a significant sum and with other clubs interested, it could push his short-term valuation up given how little time there is to strike deals before Friday's 11PM deadline.

However, he would definitely be a welcome addition to a side full of seasoned second tier performers, with the striker hoping he can establish himself as the main frontman in a side with his physical attributes and dynamism, and the fact that age is well and truly on his side means Coburn has the potential to still become one of the more lethal finishers across the division in time.