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Ryan Lowe’s January transfer priorities appear to be clear at Preston North End
PNE have been active in the summer transfer window and will certainly be looking at further business in January This is always an important period of the season and Preston North End will have the opportunity to step up further half of their squad in January.
The Lilywhites sit sixth in the table after 15 games, but have 10 more games to go before the transfer window reopens.
Of course, it is hoped that Ryan Lowe’s side can continue to top the table between now and then.
Most of North End’s work was done over the summer, with eight new signings brought to Deepdale – including club record signing Milutin Osmajic.
PNE is believed to have paid a fee of around £2.
1m to acquire Montenegro, while his compatriot Mads Frokjaer is said to have asked for around £1.
2m.
Experienced trio Duane Holmes, Jack Whatmough and Will Keane were also snapped up along with Liam Millar, Layton Stewart and Calvin Ramsay.Osmajic, Frokjaer, Millar, Keane and Holmes – whose impact in particular has been excellent – are all off the mark for the season.
Lowe was keen to reduce the size of the squad at PNE and he has now had time to do that, with the quality brought through the door pleasing him.
Last week, Lowe observed that Preston’s squad – in his view – has progressed substantially.
But, there always remains room for improvement.
North End’s manager has been backed as well as any in recent times and there will be an onus on Lowe to keep delivering results.
There are, mind, some clear areas in which North End can look to address – once they get the opportunity to do so.
Lowe said himself, recently, that another couple of transfer windows may be needed to get ‘everything’ he needs.
And having boosted the striking department in the summer, with a settled goalkeeping unit and competition in midfield, defence will surely be the primary focus moving forwards.
Jordan Storey and Liam Lindsay – both contracted until the summer of 2025 – are ever-presents back there for PNE.
As is Andrew Hughes when fit, but the Welshman’s availability has been hampered in the last year-and-a-half.
He played much of last season with a shoulder problem, which was resolved this summer, but a calf problem has kept the 31-year-old on the sidelines for more than a month now.
On paper, Whatmough looked like a regular addition to the squad this summer, but a hamstring injury has also kept him out for the past four weeks.
Of course, Preston’s defense will develop over the coming years, but January could be the time to consider reinforcements.
Greg Cunningham, 32, and Patrick Bauer, 31, are under contract until the end of the season.
The former recently suffered a hamstring injury and Bauer is at the bottom of the rankings.
Storey and Lindsay are capable operators at Championship level, but like most players, they will experience dips in form, confidence or suffer setbacks.
Their position in the team does not appear to be under threat at the moment.
Therefore, signing a young centre-back with room to develop could be a strong and smart move from North End.
Not just to strengthen the squad but also to develop a potential asset in another area of the pitch.
Craig Hemmings and his colleagues showed that they will financially support Ryan Lowe and trust the perspective of the Preston recruitment team.
After targeting permanent additions over the summer, PNE must continue to find ways to build.
PNE have been active in the summer transfer window and will certainly be looking at further business in January This is always an important period of the season and Preston North End will have the opportunity to step up further half of their squad in January.
The Lilywhites sit sixth in the table after 15 games, but have 10 more games to go before the transfer window reopens.
Of course, it is hoped that Ryan Lowe’s side can continue to top the table between now and then.
Most of North End’s work was done over the summer, with eight new signings brought to Deepdale – including club record signing Milutin Osmajic.
PNE is believed to have paid a fee of around £2.
1m to acquire Montenegro, while his compatriot Mads Frokjaer is said to have asked for around £1.
2m.
Experienced trio Duane Holmes, Jack Whatmough and Will Keane were also snapped up along with Liam Millar, Layton Stewart and Calvin Ramsay.Osmajic, Frokjaer, Millar, Keane and Holmes – whose impact in particular has been excellent – are all off the mark for the season.
Lowe was keen to reduce the size of the squad at PNE and he has now had time to do that, with the quality brought through the door pleasing him.
Last week, Lowe observed that Preston’s squad – in his view – has progressed substantially.
But, there always remains room for improvement.
North End’s manager has been backed as well as any in recent times and there will be an onus on Lowe to keep delivering results.
There are, mind, some clear areas in which North End can look to address – once they get the opportunity to do so.
Lowe said himself, recently, that another couple of transfer windows may be needed to get ‘everything’ he needs.
And having boosted the striking department in the summer, with a settled goalkeeping unit and competition in midfield, defence will surely be the primary focus moving forwards.
Jordan Storey and Liam Lindsay – both contracted until the summer of 2025 – are ever-presents back there for PNE.
As is Andrew Hughes when fit, but the Welshman’s availability has been hampered in the last year-and-a-half.
He played much of last season with a shoulder problem, which was resolved this summer, but a calf problem has kept the 31-year-old on the sidelines for more than a month now.
On paper, Whatmough looked like a regular addition to the squad this summer, but a hamstring injury has also kept him out for the past four weeks.
Of course, Preston’s defense will develop over the coming years, but January could be the time to consider reinforcements.
Greg Cunningham, 32, and Patrick Bauer, 31, are under contract until the end of the season.
The former recently suffered a hamstring injury and Bauer is at the bottom of the rankings.
Storey and Lindsay are capable operators at Championship level, but like most players, they will experience dips in form, confidence or suffer setbacks.
Their position in the team does not appear to be under threat at the moment.
Therefore, signing a young centre-back with room to develop could be a strong and smart move from North End.
Not just to strengthen the squad but also to develop a potential asset in another area of the pitch.
Craig Hemmings and his colleagues showed that they will financially support Ryan Lowe and trust the perspective of the Preston recruitment team.
After targeting permanent additions over the summer, PNE must continue to find ways to build.
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