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Sources: Preston respond as Cardiff City make approach to sign Sean Maguire
Preston North End have turned down an enquiry from Championship rivals Cardiff City for striker Sean Maguire, Football Insider understands.
Cardiff made an enquiry to take Republic of Ireland international on loan for the second half of the season as the Bluebirds look to bolster their attacking options.
A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Maguire, 27, impressed against Cardiff in the recent FA Cup meeting between the two clubs which prompted Bluebirds boss Steve Morison to enquire over his availability.
However, Preston have quickly rejected the overtures from Cardiff as North End boss Ryan Lowe is keen to keep the 27-year-old at Deepdale.
Despite making 20 appearances for Preston this season, Maguire has only scored once.
He played the full 90 minutes as Cardiff beat Preston 2-1 with an extra-time victory in the FA Cup on 9 January.
The forward has been at Preston since 2017 and has 155 appearances for the club to his name.
Those outings have yielded 24 goals and 18 assists.
Maguire started his career at Waterford United before he joined West Ham in 2013.
He failed to make a senior appearance for the Hammers and enjoyed loan spells at Sligo Rovers and Accrington Stanley.
After being released by the Hammers at the end of the 2014-15 season, Maguire joined Dundalk then Cork City before arriving at Deepdale.
Cardiff are looking to bolster their attack as they fight against relegation.
They are set to face Nottingham Forest at 4pm after losing 3-2 to Bristol City last weekend.
In other news, Kevin Phillips is ‘surprised’ by Sunderland signing after what he ‘can gather’.