Irish international Graham Burke's transfer from Shamrock Rovers to Preston is set to be completed this week.

The Championship side have been in discussions with the Hoops since making a bid of close to €300,000 for the attacker's services last week.

Negotiations have continued since then and it's believed that the parties have effectively thrashed out a final agreement. The deal could be announced as soon as today.

Burke is with the Rovers squad this week preparing for Friday's league match in Limerick which is likely to be his final game for the club.

The League of Ireland then enters a mid-season break and Burke will go on holiday before linking up with his new Preston team-mates for the start of their pre-season. His transfer will formally go through on July 1.

Former Dundalk midfielder Patrick McEleney has emerged as a possible replacement. He joined Oldham in January but was unable to prevent the club from suffering relegation to League Two.

Oldham are in a precarious financial position and need to cut costs. McEleney has struggled to settle in and is understood to be open to a move home.

Rovers are also interested in the Derryman, who was back in Dundalk last Friday watching his former team-mates in action. A return to Oriel Park for the 25-year-old is also a possibility, although that may depend on developments involving Hungarian playmaker Krisztián Adorján who is on loan from Italian side Novara until July.

Stephen Kenny has also given Jamie McGrath additional responsibility in the number ten role since McEleney's exit.

Dundalk will complete a move for UCD striker Georgie Kelly - currently the joint top scorer in the First Division - once the window opens in July.

Irish Independent