Shamrock Rovers keen on Ed McGinty with Oxford open to deal for Sligo Rovers loanee

McGinty is a huge fan favourite at the Showgrounds, with the Scottish-born keeper moving to Ireland in his teens and breaking through at senior level with the Bit'O'Red before leaving for Oxford in the summer of 2022.

However, he has made just 10 appearances for the newly promoted Championship side, with the last of those coming in an FA Cup defeat to Arsenal in January 2023.

He has a strong affinity with his loan club who will be desperate to bring McGinty back on a permanent basis but the Hoops are now firmly in the equation and mulling a concrete offer.

Stephen Bradley put his faith in Leon Pohls as number one keeper this season after the retirement of Alan Mannus and he endured some difficult moments in the first half of the year before an upturn in performances in a campaign that is ongoing, with Rovers still involved in the Europa Conference League.

But it's anticipated that Bradley will look to strengthen the goalkeeping department over the winter and McGinty has been identified as the preferred option within the league.

It's been a difficult off-season for the Bit'O'Red with captain Niall Morahan leaving for Bohemians and Simon Power departing for St Patrick's Athletic. They have knocked back an enquiry from Tallaght for under contract midfielder Connor Malley but the Dubliners are expected to try again in the New Year.

The Hoops have benefited from the services of another Bit'O'Red academy graduate over the past two seasons with Johnny Kenny impressing on loan from Celtic. Bradley has urged the front man to consider another year in Ireland, but it's understood that the player wants to keep his options open.

Elsewhere, FAI Cup winners Drogheda United are likely to mount a bid to bring Conor Keeley back to the club. The centre half joined St Patrick's Athletic from the Boynesiders last winter but has struggled for gametime. He's under contract with the Saints but there is interest from elsewhere with the retirement of Dave Webster leaving a vacancy in the heart of the Drogheda defence.