Preston North End Weigh Up Bid for OGC Nice Forward Kevin Carlos
Preston North End are considering a move for OGC Nice forward Kevin Carlos as the French club looks to slash their wage bill and raise transfer funds. The Championship side could submit an offer for the 25-year-old Spaniard, Nice-Matin reports.
Carlos arrived at Nice from FC Basel last summer in a €6 million deal but struggled to adapt to French football. The centre-forward failed to find the net in 23 Ligue 1 appearances last season, with his only goals—two in total—coming in the UEFA Europa League.
Nice are desperate to offload players this transfer window to improve their financial position and create space for new signings. The club view Carlos as a candidate for departure following his disappointing domestic form, particularly given the significant investment made to acquire him just twelve months ago.
The striker has already rejected opportunities to leave France this summer, turning down bids from Turkish club Samsunspor despite their interest. This reluctance to move to Turkey raises questions about whether Carlos would be willing to drop down to England’s second tier, where Preston currently compete.
Prior to his transfer to France, Carlos had been plying his trade in Switzerland with Basel. His move to Nice represented a significant step up in his career, but the subsequent goal drought in league football has forced the French club to reconsider their investment.
For Preston, the potential deal represents an opportunity to acquire a player with recent European experience at a potentially reduced price. Carlos’s record in the Europa League suggests he retains attacking quality, even if he failed to translate that form to Ligue 1.
The coming days will determine whether Preston formalise their interest with a concrete offer, and whether Carlos is prepared to accept a move to the Championship to revive his career after his setbacks in Nice.