"I know Emil" - Preston North End: Paul Heckingbottom sets firm stance on Sheffield United target | OneFootball

Paul Heckingbottom spoke out on Sheffield United's interest in Emil Riis.

Paul Heckingbottom has set a firm stance on the potential sale of Emil Riis Jakobsen to Sheffield United this January.

The Preston North End boss admitted that he wants to tie the Danish attacker down to a new contract when questioned by the Lancashire Post about the rumoured interest.

The Blades are on the lookout for a new striker this January, and so far have been linked to Tom Cannon and Oli McBurnie as well as Riis.

The 26-year-old is out of contract at PNE this summer and was previously a target for Sheffield United back in 2022 when the Blades supposedly placed a £7 million bid.

What price he commands now remains unclear, but with only six months remaining on his contract, it appears Heckingbottom is more focused on securing new negotiations than parting ways with the striker.

Paul Heckingbottom's firm stance on Emil Riis

Speaking to the Lancashire Post at a press conference, Heckingbottom gave a fairly blunt response, indicating his desperation for the Dane to remain this month.

Posed the question of whether he would be reluctant to sanction a January deal, the PNE head coach said: "Yeah.

"I will answer it (wanting Riis to sign a new contract) the same way... everyone has to be happy with that, don't they?

“Players are well within their rights to let their contracts run down. There is nothing you can do about that. But I know Emil is enjoying his football - you can see that."

The striker has enjoyed something of a resurgence this season, scoring seven goals in 25 Championship appearances. While that is a far cry from his 20-goal tally in all competitions during the 2021-22 season, in a more creative side, Preston's number nine could prove to be highly effective.

Emil Riis Jakobsen should stay put at Preston

Unsurprisingly, Heckingbottom is desperate for Riis to remain at Deepdale, with the striker starting all but five games this season.

While Sheffield United would be a good step up in terms of quality, it is difficult to see the Dane getting constant opportunities, with Wilder likely to favour Tyrese Campbell when he returns from injury.

In addition, should the Blades secure promotion to the Premier League, it is unclear whether he would be ready for that level. Only once has he scored more than 10 league goals in a season, which suggests that continuing to develop his game at Preston may be the most beneficial move for him at this stage of his career.

The striker always has the option of running down his contract, and a strong second half of the season will see plenty of suitors arrive in the summer.