Preston North End manager Simon Grayson is delighted to have signed striker Will Keane, beating a whole host of other Championship clubs to his signature.
The 22-year-old Manchester United striker was a man in demand over the summer with several Championship clubs courting the talented talisman.
But the Lilywhites fought off all other competition; Keane signing a season long loan deal at Deepdale on Wednesday.
And Grayson admits he is excited to work with the frontman.
“When we had a conversation with Manchester United about Sam Johnstone we asked about the availability of Will Keane and we got some positive signs,” the gaffer told PNE.Com.
“We are delighted to have signed Will. He has got fantastic movement and he is a goalscorer.
“He suffered a bad injury a few years ago but he is hungry and after meeting him he ticks every box we are looking for.
“We have pulled off a bit of a coup regarding beating several other Championship clubs to him and I do feel he is going to be a major asset to our squad.
“We have got good competition but he can play anywhere across the front three, in the No.10 role, and we are excited about his signing; it is one we have worked hard to confirm ahead of a lot of other clubs.”
Keane has previous experience of Deepdale - both good and bad.
As part of the England U19s set-up, Keane played and scored twice in a 5-0 win against Slovenia before suffering a knee ligament injury against Switzerland just five days later in a 1-0 victory.
And Grayson is hoping to rekindle the potential that was bubbling inside Keane prior to that day in May 2012.
The manager continued: “He had an unbelievably bright future before he had his unfortunate injury, but he has been at Sheffield Wednesday and QPR over the last couple of years; I have watched him a number of times and the people that you speak to who have worked with him can’t speak highly enough of
him in terms of his movement, his finishing, his size, a clever player, and we do feel very fortunate that we have got him.”
Keane’s capture is the latest for the Lilywhites following the arrivals of Paul Gallagher and Jermaine Beckford on permanent deals.
And Grayson is pleased with how his squad puzzle is starting to take shape, saying: “We are now adding players to the group that give us options and can play in different positions as we will have different systems throughout the season.
“It is another piece to our jigsaw that we are continuing to build.”
But the Lilywhites fought off all other competition; Keane signing a season long loan deal at Deepdale on Wednesday.
And Grayson admits he is excited to work with the frontman.
“When we had a conversation with Manchester United about Sam Johnstone we asked about the availability of Will Keane and we got some positive signs,” the gaffer told PNE.Com.
“We are delighted to have signed Will. He has got fantastic movement and he is a goalscorer.
“He suffered a bad injury a few years ago but he is hungry and after meeting him he ticks every box we are looking for.
“We have pulled off a bit of a coup regarding beating several other Championship clubs to him and I do feel he is going to be a major asset to our squad.
“We have got good competition but he can play anywhere across the front three, in the No.10 role, and we are excited about his signing; it is one we have worked hard to confirm ahead of a lot of other clubs.”
Keane has previous experience of Deepdale - both good and bad.
As part of the England U19s set-up, Keane played and scored twice in a 5-0 win against Slovenia before suffering a knee ligament injury against Switzerland just five days later in a 1-0 victory.
And Grayson is hoping to rekindle the potential that was bubbling inside Keane prior to that day in May 2012.
The manager continued: “He had an unbelievably bright future before he had his unfortunate injury, but he has been at Sheffield Wednesday and QPR over the last couple of years; I have watched him a number of times and the people that you speak to who have worked with him can’t speak highly enough of
him in terms of his movement, his finishing, his size, a clever player, and we do feel very fortunate that we have got him.”
Keane’s capture is the latest for the Lilywhites following the arrivals of Paul Gallagher and Jermaine Beckford on permanent deals.
And Grayson is pleased with how his squad puzzle is starting to take shape, saying: “We are now adding players to the group that give us options and can play in different positions as we will have different systems throughout the season.
“It is another piece to our jigsaw that we are continuing to build.”