Exclusive: Bournemouth set to exploit Celtic discord with late-window double swoop
Bournemouth are set to exploit the Celtic discord with a double swoop for Preston North End contract rebels Ben Davies and Ben Pearson, Football Insider understands.
The Hoops have long held a strong interest in centre-back Davies and central midfielder Pearson ahead of their North End deals expiring in the summer.
Talks have been held with both players over potential pre-contract agreements as well as cut-price January transfers.
But the Celtic disharmony that has left club chiefs planning massive changes on and off the pitch over the coming months means their January transfer plans are up in the air.
Bournemouth are now readying late-window moves for Davies, 25, and Pearson, 26.
The Championship promotion challengers have been encouraged by the prospect of landing the proven pair for cut-price fees this month, or for nothing when their contract expires.
Preston are willing to do business in the final week of the window after, as revealed by Football Insider, Davies and Pearson knocked back club-record contract offers of £17,000-a-week.
Pearson has been frozen out of the Preston side even though manager Alex Neil rates him the best shielding midfielder in the Championship.
Davies remains a key man but he has privately made it clear he wants to move on from Deepdale.
Celtic have been tracking Davies since August as a potential replacement for Kristoffer Ajer, as first revealed by this site.
But Bournemouth are also long-term suitors for him and had a bid knocked back by Preston in the last window.