Rangers & Celtic on red alert: Preston trio reject record offers, Jan moves vow - Exclusive
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Rangers & Celtic on red alert: Preston trio reject record offers, Jan moves vow - Exclusive

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

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Preston North End trio Ben Davies, Ben Pearson and Daniel Johnson have rejected club-record contract offers, Football Insider can reveal.

All three are wanted by either Rangers or Celtic and, in the case of Davies, both of the Glasgow giants.

A recruitment source has told Football Insider Preston are now looking to sell centre-back Davies, midfielder Pearson and playmaker Johnson this month.

Preston North End defender

Football Insider revealed last week both Davies, 25, and Johnson, 28, had been offered take-it-or-leave-it final deals in the region of £17,000-a-week.

All three are out of contract with the northwest outfit at the end of the season and are free to negotiate pre-contract deals with foreign clubs this month.

However, the Lilywhites now want to cash in on the trio before they lose them for free in the summer.

Celtic have been tracking Davies since August as a potential replacement for Kristoffer Ajer, as first revealed by this site.

They were also targeting Philadelphia Union's Mark McKenzie but he signed for Belgian side Genk this week, making a move for Davies more likely.

The Hoops' Glasgow rivals Rangers have also been alerted to Davies' availability as they consider a potential reshuffle to their backline and prepare for at least one big-money exit.

North End valued Davies at £10million in the summer but is now believed they would accept an offer in the region of £5million for their academy product.

Rangers had a £2million bid for Davies' teammate Johnson rejected in the summer as Preston held firm on their £4million valuation.

Sky Sports' Anthony Johnson tweeted last week Celtic had made initial contact with Pearson, 26, with Brentford and West Brom also interested in the Manchester United academy graduate.

In other news, Football Insider can reveal a fresh twist in Rangers' and Celtic's pursuit of Bright Osayi-Samuel with a club in advanced talks with the winger.

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Celtic
Preston North End
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