Preston North End have wrapped up their second signing of the week and their third of the summer in Duane Holmes.
Hot on the heels of Mads Frøkjær-Jensen arriving from Odense on Tuesday, PNE are back in the market again.
Holmes has now joined too, penning a two-year contract at Deepdale with an undisclosed deal agreed with Huddersfield Town.
The 28-year-old brings plenty of energy and Championship experience to the PNE squad whilst reuniting with Ryan Lowe and Mike Marsh.
Holmes played alongside Lowe at Bury back in 2014 and worked with Marsh at Huddersfield in the 2015-16 campaign.
The signing of Holmes has split opinion so far, so here is the reaction from our writers…
Olly Dawes: The signing of Holmes hasn’t quite been met with the same excitement as the deal for Mads Frøkjær-Jensen.
The concerns are understandable; Holmes is nearly 29 and coming off two injury blows at Huddersfield, playing just five times since the turn of the year.
There will be fears that Holmes will spend more time on the treatment table than on the pitch, but we will just PNE’s medical team here.
Holmes has always been a tenacious performer, providing energy in midfield and the ability to press.
Holmes is familiar to Ryan Lowe from their time together at Bury way back in 2014 and he can fill a number of roles as a versatile player.
The American is a good fit if Lowe wants to play more 3-4-2-1 this season but can also play as a central midfielder in a three and even as a wing back if needed.
Landing an experienced Championship midfielder also helps ease the pressure on new import Frøkjær-Jensen, who will need time to settle.
Providing Holmes is over his injury problems, this signing will provide PNE with more depth in midfield after losing Daniel Johnson and Josh Onomah.
Josh McLaughlin: Very different to the Mads Frøkjær-Jensen signing this one.
Duane Holmes comes with a lot of Championship experience; 155 appearances in the last five seasons with Derby County and Huddersfield Town.
14 goals in that time but the 34 yellow cards suggest he could add the bite that Ben Pearson once did.
Can only see him being a backup option with others already at the club surely ahead of him in the pecking order.
He’s more versatile than our other midfield options though, so it’s not the worst signing to make but it’s not going to whet the appetite too much.
That should be midfield sorted now, so concentration will turn to the striking department.