ANDY BOYLE IS leaving Dundalk to join Preston North End.
The 25-year-old defender, who has been one of Stephen Kenny’s key men in recent years, was among the Lilywhites players tipped for a move to England after impressing both domestically and in Europe this season.
Their incredible run in the Europa League will have alerted clubs to the talent at Stephen Kenny’s disposal, and after exiting the competition last night via defeat away to Maccabi Tel-Aviv, the door is now open for Boyle to depart.
The former UCD man, who joined Dundalk from Shelbourne in 2013, will pen a professional contract with Championship side Preston, with his agent Patrick Conliffe tweeting earlier today that the deal is done.
And while there hasn’t been an official announcement from either club, The42 understands that the move will be confirmed in the coming days.
Lilywhites winger Daryl Horgan is also wanted by Preston and could soon be following his team-mate.
The pair were recently called up to Ireland’s senior squad for the World Cup qualifier with Austria, and former Preston youth product Kevin Kilbane explained on Off The Ball last night that he had spoken to current manager Simon Grayson and Alan Kelly about both players.
Currently 14th in England’s second tier, Preston (also nicknamed the Lilywhites) already have a strong Irish contingent with Greg Cunningham, Alan Browne, Eoin Doyle and Aiden McGeady (on loan from Everton) all on the books.
Meanwhile, the Dundalk team missed their flight home from Israel last night and only left Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport for Dublin this afternoon.
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