PRESTON NORTH END are eyeing up a cut-price move for Charlton Athletic striker Macauley Bonne.
Alex Neil's side, who finished four points off the play-off places, could make an opening bid of £500,000 plus add-ons next week.
Former Leyton Orient striker Bonne jumped three divisions last season but more than held his own in the Championship, scoring 11 goals.
Preston are waiting to see what happens with crisis club Charlton's financial situation.
As SunSport revealed earlier this week, the London club are facing being booted out of the EFL unless current owners ESI sell.
Preston see 24-year-old former non-League striker Bonne as a rough diamond with bags of potential.
The club raided the Addicks for centre-back Patrick Bauer last summer with the German becoming a key part of Neil's side, starting all but one game.
However, Charlton are keen to hold onto Bonne with director of football Steven Gallen hoping he fires the club back to the Championship at the first time of asking.
Gallen also revealed he is yet to receive any offers for the two-cap Zimbabwe international.
He told London News Online: "I don’t want Macauley to go – no chance. I think he can go and score 15-20 goals in this division.
"He had a great return last season – 11 goals in the Championship having come from non-League.
"I don’t want Macauley to go and neither does Lee Bowyer. We’re really pleased no-one has made an offer.”
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