CORK CITY ARE keen to secure the services of former Republic of Ireland U19 striker Eoghan Stokes after confirming over the weekend that Sean Maguire will leave the club this summer.
Maguire, who has scored 16 league goals in 17 appearances for the Leesiders this season, will join English Championship outfit Preston North End on a three-year deal at the end of July.
Having been with Leeds United since leaving St Kevin’s Boys at the age of 16, Stokes has been offered a one-year contract extension to remain at Elland Road for a sixth season.
However, City are hopeful of completing a deal for the 21-year-old as Leeds continue their search for a new manager following the recent departure of Garry Monk, who guided the club to a seventh-place finish in England’s second tier last season.
Stokes, who can also play in an advanced midfield role or in a wide berth, has scored regularly for Leeds at U21 and U23 level but is understood to be uncertain over his future at the club after being unable to make a first-team breakthrough.
The Leixlip native has attracted interest from elsewhere in the League of Ireland, as well as clubs in England. After signing a new one-year deal with Leeds last summer, Stokes became a target for Dundalk before the start of the 2017 SSE Airtricity League season. However, the two clubs were unable to agree a deal.
As they prepare to lose their leading goalscorer, Cork City have also been linked with Galway United striker Ronan Murray, Sligo Rovers playmaker Kieran Sadlier and ex-Dundalk forward Patrick Hoban, who’s looking for a new club after being released by Mansfield Town.
City moved 18 points clear at the top of the Premier Division on Friday night, with Maguire scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over champions Dundalk at Oriel Park.
The 23-year-old striker had a €150,000 release clause in his contract with the Cork club, who announced on Saturday that they’ve agreed “an appropriate but undisclosed compensation package” with Preston.
