Exclusive: Middlesbrough & Preston North End submit transfer enquiries for 9-goal forward | OneFootball

Versatile youngster Kelly Nmai is on Middlesbrough and PNE's radar

Championship pair Middlesbrough and Preston North End have enquired about versatile Salford City forward Kelly Nmai, sources have exclusively told Football League World.

Both clubs are looking to add some fresh attacking talent to their squads ahead of the 2025-26 season, with Boro still having money to spend following the big-money sale of Emmanuel Latte Lath to Atlanta United in February.

PNE and Paul Heckingbottom meanwhile have lost Emil Riis on a free transfer and loanees such as Sam Greenwood since the conclusion of last season, but they are looking to make moves - they have a divisional rival to fend off though if they want to land one of their targets.

FLW has been told that both Boro and the Lilywhites are interested in Salford's Kelly Nmai, and that enquiries have been submitted to the League Two outfit for his services.

The 21-year-old Dutchman, who is a winger by trade but played at left wing-back and as a striker for the majority of the 2024-25 season, had a breakout campaign under Karl Robinson in the fourth tier of English football last season, scoring nine times and also notching four assists for the Ammies.

Moved up-front by Robinson towards the end of the campaign from the left-hand side of the pitch, Nmai - who was a trialist at Man United and Man City earlier in his career - ended last season in-form with four goals and one assist from his final eight league outings.

How long he will stay at the Peninsula Stadium for though remains to be seen, with two Championship clubs keen to strike a deal for his services.

Salford City may need to consider decent-sized offers for Nmai this summer, given his contract situation at the Greater Manchester outfit.

Last summer, Nmai signed a two-year contract extension with Salford, taking his deal up until June 2026, and this will be the last transfer window where the club could guarantee a potentially decent fee for his services, because as of now, he will be able to talk to overseas clubs over a pre-contract deal this coming January.

Karl Robinson revealed recently that the club's hierarchy, which includes Gary Neville and David Beckham, should be turning down £1 million offers for Nmai this summer, so it remains to be seen how much money it would take to get the wing-back/forward out of Moor Lane.