A strong Irish contingent at Preston could be bolstered even further in January.
The Irish Sun's Neil O'Riordan is reporting that Championship side Preston have fought off interest from several other clubs including Rangers, Barnsley, Bolton and Oldham to sign Andy Boyle from Dundalk. The 25-year-old centre-back has 'agreed in principle' to make the move during the January transfer window.
Joining Boyle at Preston is expected to be Dundalk's most prized asset - Daryl Horgan. Like Boyle, Horgan has also generated interest from several clubs including Sunderland, Newcastle, Aston Villa and also Rangers.
Both Boyle and the 24-year-old Horgan were part of Martin O'Neill's Ireland squad for the World Cup qualifier against Austria last month.
If the duo pitch up in Lancashire, they will join a squad already featuring several Irish players.
Aiden McGeady, who Horgan would likely compete with for a place in the Preston starting line-up, is there on loan from Everton.
If he does break into the first team, Horgan could form a partnership on Preston's left-hand side with Greg Cunningham, the club's Player of the Season for 2015/16 and also someone who could fill the Irish left-back berth in the future.
21-year-old Corkman Alan Browne also features regularly for Simon Grayson's side.
Dubliner Eoin Doyle, who hit the headlines at the weekend after being sent off for fighting with teammate Jermaine Beckford, is also at the club.
Preston currently sit mid-table in the Championship, six points outside of the playoff places.
Dundalk play the final game of their Europa League group this week with qualification still a possibility. They face a tough trip to Israel to play Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
Should Dundalk qualify, they would have to play the knockout stages of the tournament without Horgan and Boyle, two of their most important players.
