Welsh league champions, The New Saints, are keen to sign St Johnstone striker Eetu Vertainen in the summer, Courier Sport understands.
The Finnish forward is currently in the middle of a season-long loan at Linfield and his two-year Perth contract runs out in May.
Vertainen is on a goalscoring run of nine goals in five games for the Northern Irish side and has grabbed two hat-tricks in a row.
1⃣ assist
3⃣ goals
3⃣ points for @OfficialBluesEetu Vertainen is #DanskeBankPrem 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 🥇 pic.twitter.com/EdG8EelVGO
— NI Football League (@OfficialNIFL) January 31, 2023
There is no prospect of a return to McDiarmid Park for the 23-year-old.
Linfield want to keep him on a permanent deal but can now expect a battle with TNS.
Ironically, the two teams faced each other in a Champions League qualifier in July, with Linfield winning that two-leg contest.
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