Championship clubs must rescue 19-goal star from League One, he could be perfect for Preston North End

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As the summer transfer window pauses due to the Club World Cup, Championship sides are continuing to prepare moves for recruits ahead of next season.

Preston North End finished last season nervously looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone, and managed to finish the campaign just one point above the drop zone.

Throughout the early stages of the summer transfer window, Preston have been busy both in terms of incomings, and outgoings to prepare Paul Heckingbottom for next season.

Preston’s latest signing Thierry Smalls was a brilliant acquisition for the Lilywhites, who joins Pol Valentin, Daniel Iversen, and Jordan Thompson as new arrivals to Deepdale.

Preston must build on that stellar early summer business and should be targeting a prolific League One forward this summer.

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Championship clubs must target Davis Keillor-Dunn in transfer window

Barnsley forward Davis Keillor-Dunn was one of the best players in League One last season, finishing the campaign as the third tier’s third-highest goalscorer, just behind Birmingham’s Jay Stansfield and Leyton Orient loanee Charlie Kelman.

Englishman Keillor-Dunn arrived at Barnsley last summer from Mansfield Town, and the versatile forward enjoyed an outstanding debut season for The Tykes.

The former Wrexham man scored 19 goals and notched seven assists in 45 appearances in all competitions this season, and was hailed by his head coach as a “natural finisher”, one a host of second tier sides should want to target this summer.

As per the Barnsley Chronicle, recently-sacked Barnsley boss Darrell Clarke said: “For me, he’s our best natural finisher. That’s why we brought him to the football club.

“He’s very intelligent with and without the ball. He’s shown his quality over a long period of time throughout his career.

“He’s been in really hot form and we’re just really pleased to have him in our team.

“Not only that, he’s a real good team-worker. He’s an intelligent footballer and hopefully, his hot streak continues.”

The League One Player of the Year nominee has attracted interest from several Championship clubs this summer, but Preston should be the ones pushing the hardest to secure his services ahead of next season.

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Davis Keillor-Dunn could be Emil Riis Jakobsen replacement at Preston

Preston’s retained list confirmed the departure of forward Emil Riis Jakobsen, who was previously linked with Sunderland, departs the Lilywhites on the back of his 12-goal campaign.

As such, Preston are in desperate need to replace the goalscoring exploits of their top goalscorer, or relegation will become a very real fear once again for Heckingbottom’s side.

In light of the Danish forward’s departure, Barnsley ace Keillor-Dunn would be the perfect replacement, given his physical profile, proven goalscoring record in the EFL and his versatility in forward areas.

Keillor-Dunn has two years left to run on his current Barnsley deal, and given his £700,000 estimated market value, the financial aspects would constitute impressive business from the Deepdale hierarchy.