The transfer window closes at 7pm on Monday, 7 February
Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom is hoping for two more signings on transfer deadline day.
Last Thursday, the Lilywhites announced their first addition of the window as Serbian striker Milos Lukovic arrived on loan from Strasbourg. Now, Heckingbottom - whose side drew 1-1 at high flying Ipswich Town on Saturday - wants to add another attacking player as well as midfielder.
“Yeah, that's what I'm expecting,” he told the Lancashire Post. “Like I said, the bodies we’ve lost... we lost three. If Harrison (Armstrong) comes back, we'll have replaced a body for Steffie (Stefan Thordarson) and then a body for Keano (Will Keane). And then yeah, we've done well.”
PNE face a nervous wait over whether Everton will send Armstrong back to Preston. The midfielder started again for the Toffeeson Saturday - playing 80 minutes away to Brighton. However, former North End boss David Moyes stated post-match that didn’t mean he’d decided not to return the player to the Lilywhites.
On how confident Heckingbottom has come across over the situation throughout the month, he said: “Yeah, because I'm in constant dialogue with David. But, I also know that Harrison's their player. As you say, he's started again today. He's a big part of what they do. I think we are on the same page as Everton. David knows what we can offer Harrison for the remainder.
“But likewise, I know what Harrison is and it's just Everton's decision on what's going to be the best for Harrison. I think if we weren't there as an option, he stays all day long and David's using him as part of his squad. But, the decision is what's going to put Harrison in the best position for the start of next season.”
The other player strongly being linked with a late move to Deepdale is Portsmouth attacker Callum Lang. As reported by the Lancashire Post on Friday evening, PNE are still pursuing a move for the 27-year-old and trying to agree a deal with the Fratton Park side. Pompey boss John Mousinho weighed in on the situation after his side’s victory over West Brom - amid reports from Portsmouth of a £1.75m move being in the works.
When asked by the Lancashire Post if North End are in a position to be making bids for players, Heckingbottom said: “I think so, yeah... I think so.”
PNE’s boss has been public, throughout the window, about the need to bolster his options at the top end of the pitch. Preston, after the draw at Ipswich, sit eighth in the table - three points adrift of sixth placed Wrexham. If North End manage to bring in two more players, as expected, would Heckingbottom feel as though he has been backed?
“Yeah, yeah, listen, the window is hard,” said Heckingbottom. “Like I’ve said, you want it done on the first of January, 100 per cent, but we know how difficult it is. The dead simple thing for us, and I say it to Peter, to James, to staff... I'm used to it where, just be relaxed what everyone else is doing.
“Our market might be different, but we need to be the best in our market. But then if we are identifying players, one, that we could afford, and then two, within our structure that I think will help the squad, we can't be messing about with it. We've got to go and get them... got to go and get them.
“Otherwise, you don't do that and then we're working outside our parameters again, looking at players who aren't going to get in the XI, or players who are out of our budget. So yeah, that aspect is dead, dead simple. If you work without panic and are really clear and aggressive, attacking things, you can get things done.”
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