Preston North End chasing Plymouth Argyle striker Lorent Tolaj

Championship outfit Preston North End are reportedly keeping tabs on striker Lorent Tolaj as the Deepdale side look to strengthen their goalscoring options.

The 24-year-old Swiss-born forward enjoyed an excellent 2025-26 campaign with Plymouth Argyle in League 1, scoring 18 goals and providing a further eight assists in his 33 league appearances.

Argyle boss Tom Cleverley is on record suggesting he wants to retain the services of Tolaj, though he concedes there will be interest in the striker this summer.

Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom could be in need of a new addition should Milutin Osmajic - who has 12 months left on his contract – make an exit from Deepdale this summer.

Tolaj high on PNE’s wish list

Tolaj has represented a number of clubs across England and Scotland since joining Brighton's academy in 2018 as a teenager.

He had loan spells at Cambridge United, Salford City and Dundee while on the books at Brighton before completing a move to Aldershot Town in the summer of 2023.

He scored 19 goals in 44 appearances and that was enough to win a move to Port Vale in League 2, where he netted 14 times in 37 appearances in his first season.

That was enough to convince Plymouth to trigger a £1.2m release clause last August and they were rewarded with an excellent season as Tolaj scored 21 times in league and cup.

Lots of suitors being linked

Preston certainly aren't alone in their pursuit of Tolaj as the likes of Leicester, Celtic and Swansea have all been mentioned as potential suitors.

Reports earlier this year suggested the Scottish champions Celtic were showing an interest in the forward.

Martin O'Neill has now been installed as Hoops boss on a one-year deal after leading the Glasgow side to an unlikely league and cup double following a turbulent season at Parkhead that saw the Northern Irishman twice stepping in as interim manager after Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy's departures.

With Japanese forward Daizen Maeda expected to depart Glasgow this summer, Celtic are sure to be hunting for reinforcements.

New Leicester boss Russell Martin is preparing for third tier football with the Foxes come August and could also be a manager with an interest in a striker proven at that level.

Cleverley in no mood to sell

Preston and other clubs with an eagerness to secure the Swiss goalscorer will be aware that Plymouth aren't in a selling mood.

In April, Home Park boss Cleverley said there had been no expressions of interest in Tolaj though he added: "I'd imagine agents are doing their thing in the background."

The Pilgrims boss suggested his leading marksman "loves playing for Argyle" but noted that "every team in the country would love a striker that can turn a draw into a win in the blink of an eye."

Tolaj, who is left footed, six foot tall and turns 25 in October, is sure to be the subject of speculation this summer.

If Argyle opt to allow him to leave, it's plausible they will more than double the £1.2m fee they paid Port Vale just 12 months ago.

Tolaj signed a four-year deal when he moved to Home Park in August last year and it is unknown if there is a release clause in that contract.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.