Cathal O'Sullivan in advanced talks to join Preston North End

ON THE MOVE: athal O'Sullivan is on the verge of securing a move to Preston North End, continuing the tradition of Cork City players joining the English Championship outfit. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Cathal O'Sullivan is on the verge of securing a move to Preston North End, continuing the tradition of Cork City players joining the English Championship outfit.

Speculation has surrounded the 18-year-old’s next destination since he began to shine for City and Ireland’s underage teams.

FA Cup winners Crystal Palace were to the fore, inviting him to their training ground in May for a tour and to meet senior management, but the second anterior cruciate ligament rupture of his career in July scuppered any immediate move.

The Glanmire native had featured 21 times during City’s return to the Premier Division until disaster struck against Sligo Rovers.

A nine-month layoff is predicted but his first professional contract with his hometown club expired on November 30.

Preston were one of the first English clubs to track the playmaker in his early teens, upping their interest in recent months.

O’Sullivan was a guest at Deepdale for the December 20 fixture against Norwich City and has since spent another spell with the club.

City’s entitlement to a transfer fee ended once their gem became a free agent but they are due compensation for training and development under Fifa’s statutes. That’s understood to be a low six-figure amount.

O'Sullivan is believed to have agreed personal terms on a two-and-a-half-year contract, allowing him to continue his recovery from injury under the care of Preston’s medical team.

April has been mooted as the comeback month but the Lilywhites – currently fourth in the Championship table – will be looking towards having their new recruit fit and ready for the start of next season.

Once the deal is completed with all parties, including Cork City, the youngster will join Irish internationals Robbie Brady and Will Keane at Preston.

O’Sullivan will also be familiar with Kitt Nelson and Kaedyn Kamara from their spells as loanees at City last season.

He will follow the path taken by Seáni Maguire, Kevin O’Connor and Alan Browne by moving to Preston North End.

Links were deepened when, in 2020, Preston’s owners the Hemmings family, through their vehicle Grovemoor, purchased the right to buy Cork City.

Financial difficulties earlier that year led City to cash in their buy-out clauses for Maguire and Browne for €500,000, an emergency injection required to obtain a Premier Division licence.