Salford City star, Kelly N’Mai is attracting interest from Championship sides Middlesbrough and Preston North End.
The 21-year-old winger has had a breakout year, netting nine goals and getting five assists in League Two as Salford narrowly missed out on the playoffs.
After playing much of his career up and down the left-hand side of the pitch, Karl Robinson utilised N’Mai up top in the second half of the campaign with great rewards.
This form, combined with the Dutch player’s young potential, has seen Championship clubs enter the conversation for his services.
Middlesbrough are looking to add attacking players throughout the summer window, as they look to find the goals they lost when Emmanuel Latte Lath left the club in January.
Preston is also in the market for attackers, having lost Emil Riis and loan star Sam Greenwood.
Boss Paul Heckingbottom knows how important it will be to add goals to his squad if they are to avoid another relegation scrap in England’s second division.
N’mai is a product of Salford’s youth academy, having had trials at Manchester United and Manchester City before ending up down the road.
The now 21-year-old would make his senior debut in 2021, before loan spells with Warrington Rylands and Chester FC in 2022-23.
In 2023-24, N’Mai would become a regular in the Salford team but it wasn’t until this past season where the Dutch born player really found his place, becoming one of the first names on the team sheet as an attacker.
The player is under contract with the Manchester based side until July 2026 and it appears unlikely that N’Mai will see his deal out.
Robinson’s View
Boss Karl Robinson has stated he believes it will take more than £1 million to take the forward away from the club.
Whilst there is interest from the Championship, League One sides Peterborough United and Bolton Wanderers are also in the mix, with the latter looking to replace last season’s top scorer, Aaron Collins, who looks set to join MK Dons.
Feature Image Credits: Salford City Football Club
