Jon Macken, the subject of three separate bids by Dave Jones last summer is set to join our promotion rivals in a £5 million pound deal this morning.
This may seem like a strange move for the club, as after all they aren't lacking in the goal-scoring department with Goater, Wanchope and Huckerby all in the top scorers list for the division. However, I feel it is with the Premiership in mind that Keegan has decided to pay the sum to get his man. I have a personal feeling that Keegan will dispense with Goater when they reach the Premiership with us this season, as he didn’t have the class for the top level last time round.
Macken's early season form suffered after he put in a transfer request following on from the attention from Wolves. However, he had since came off the transfer list and has started to rediscover the sort of form that originally attracted Wolves.
Macken scored a cracking goal in the Preston v Man City tie this season and no doubt caught Keegan's eye by scoring at Maine road in February.
You have to give Preston credit for holding out for the fee that Wolves were not prepared to pay. However, it could be at a higher cost.
I remember when Huddersfield were vying for promotion a few seasons back and they sold Marcus Stewart to rivals Ipswich. Ipswich got promoted and Huddersfield relegated the following season so cash in the bank isn't the same as having a top-class forward on the pitch.
If I were a Preston fan, I'd be questioning the timing too. With Preston starting push for the play-offs this season, does this mean that the Preston board is accepting their limitations?
Personally, I would have thought Macken would have done spectacularly well at Wolves. When I've seen him he has impressed me. His goal scoring record is good as well. Playing in a total of 188 matches to date he has netted 74 times.
Sure we have Kenny Miller but I feel that Miller is a season or two behind Macken in terms of experience.
Miller has only started a total of 69 games, scoring 37 times. I have a work colleague who is a Hibs fan and he told me that Miller could have done with a couple more seasons at Hibs before going to Rangers. Miller never really got that much playing experience of the Scottish Premier League before he came to Wolves. Now Miller might be thrown in at the deep end of the Premiership and that's a sink or swim scenario that could ruin many a career. Let's keep our fingers crossed!
However, it should be interesting to see what impact Macken has when he comes to Molineux on April 1st – will City play all 4 strikers?