August 1st is now upon up, meaning Preston enter the final month of the transfer window with work to do.
North End have only added two ‘new’ faces from the end of last season with Izzy Brown and Matthew Olosunde arriving on free transfers.
Olosunde has only played once in pre-season and Brown is now out of action until 2022 with an injury.
Sepp van den Berg and Liam Lindsay have returned after loan spells at Deepdale, but there is work to be done.
Ins and outs are likely in the coming weeks, and here are some of the deals North End can still pull off with just weeks of the window to go.
Connor Ripley to leave Preston as Daniel Iversen returns
Daniel Iversen will surely return for another loan spell from Leicester City having become a firm fan favourite in the second half of last season.
The Dane has been waiting for his move to go through, and he should soon be a Preston player once again.
That would surely mean the end for Ripley at Preston. Reports last month suggested that North End were ready to let Ripley go.
The 28-year-old hasn’t challenged for first choice in two-and-a-half years at Deepdale, and if Iversen does arrive, it would surely be time for Ripley to go and play elsewhere.
Joe Rafferty to Sunderland
Sunderland are believed to be interested in signing full back Joe Rafferty, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this one accelerate.
Rafferty joined at the same time as Ripley, but similarly hasn’t managed to nail down a starting role.
His contract expires next summer, meaning this could be Preston’s last chance to get a fee in for him before he leaves for free.
Olosunde, Van den Berg, Tom Barkhuizen, Alan Browne and Josh Seary can all play at right wing back in Frankie McAvoy’s system, so letting Rafferty go could be best for all parties.
Jamie Thomas signs
The shock of the summer has been playmaker Thomas, who joined North End as a trialist in July.
Thomas scored twice for Bamber Bridge against Preston in a pre-season friendly last month, and North End brought him in for a trial spell.
Thomas then scored against Accrington and played a superb pass for a goal against Wigan Athletic, so he has a great chance of landing a contract.
Formerly of Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers and Burnley, Thomas is a talented playmaker who lost his way – and he could make the huge jump from Bamber Bridge to Deepdale very soon.
Ethan Walker heads out on loan again
Young players have featured in pre-season; Josh Seary, Noah Mawene, Lewis Leigh, Joe Rodwell-Grant.
One name not really mentioned is Walker, though he did make an appearance against Bolton Wanderers.
The young attacker spent last term on loan at Carlisle United and may now need another League Two move in order to boost his chances at Preston.
Walker looked a real talent in North End’s youth setup but doesn’t look close to first-team action at Deepdale right now, so another loan move should help.
Liam Delap – or another striker – arrives
If Preston need anything in the final weeks of the window, it’s the addition of a new striker.
Frankie McAvoy needs a goalscoring threat to arrive, as North End have looked pretty toothless at times in pre-season.
Manchester City striker Liam Delap is a top target, but Preston face a real battle for his signature from a host of clubs at home and abroad.
If Preston miss out on Delap, North End would have to go and find another striker to sign in the coming weeks.