Robbie Neilson has confirmed Hearts are “very interested” in signing Garang Kuol for the remainder of the season – but Preston boss Ryan Lowe delivered a frosty response when quizzed on links with Elliot Anderson.
Preston have been linked with a move for the Geordie midfielder and Lowe admits to watching the 20-year-old twice during a loan spell at Bristol Rovers last season, yet describes reports of a loan bid as “lazy journalism.”
Lowe insists his priorities lie elsewhere this month, saying Anderson is a “fantastic player” but not a top target as things stand.
As for Kuol, Neilson did nothing to play down the Jam Tarts’ interest in the Aussie talent, confirming that the 18-year-old and his agent both have for a “look around” to club on Thursday morning.
However, he accepts a potential loan move to the SPL side is “still at the very early stages”, hoping Hearts can beat off interest from other clubs to secure the 18-year-old talent; who’d be playing alongside three other Australians should he sign at Tynecastle.
Robbie Neilson on Hearts’ interest in Garang Kuol:
“He’s a player we’re interested in so he came up for a look around with his agent.
“He’s got a number of clubs that are very interested in him. He’s a huge prospect. He’s one we’ve known about for quite a long time because he comes from the same team as Kye Rowles was at.
“The opportunity came to speak to him so we brought him up and we’ll see where it goes.
“It’s still at the very early stages. It will depend what other clubs are in for him. We’d love to get him here but we’ll just have to wait and see because he’s an 18-year-old who has been playing at the World Cup so I’m sure there will be a lot of suitors.”
Ryan Lowe on reports Preston have made a loan move for Elliot Anderson:
“The report probably came from lazy journalists.
“I went up to watch him at Carlisle last season, one Saturday afternoon, and then I watched him again somewhere.
“He is a fantastic player, but whether he is a main target for us at this moment in time – he is more of a left of a three, a number eight or number ten.
“We have spoken about what type of player we need and he is certainly not that, is he? He is a fantastic player and has fantastic ability, but at this moment in time he’s not our number one priority.”
