Preston North End head into deadline day with little expected in terms of transfer activity in the final hours of the January transfer window.
Preston have secured just the one signing this month, with striker Cameron Archer joining on loan from Aston Villa last week.
With a goal on his debut, Archer has already made a bright start to life at Deepdale. Other than that though, it’s been quiet for Preston this month.
There have been a few outgoings. Connor Wickham has moved on to Milton Keynes Dons whilst Jordan Storey and Josh Harrop have moved out on loan to Sheffield Wednesday and Fleetwood Town respectively.
There doesn’t seem to be a great deal going on at the moment, even if fans are desperate for another left wing back.
The likes of Ali Koiki, Tom Pearce and Jake Bidwell have been linked with the role.
Koiki is in talks to leave Northampton Town for Sunderland, Pearce has signed a new Wigan Athletic contract and Bidwell has signed for Coventry City.
We wouldn’t be surprised to see Preston end today without a new wing back, even if it leaves some fans frustrated.
Realistically, Preston aren’t going anywhere this season. 17 points clear of the drop zone and eight points shy of the playoffs, North End seemingly have little to play for this season.
The coming months will be vital for Ryan Lowe as he learns more about his Preston players, but we can’t see him diving into the market.
Wing backs are so vital to Lowe’s 3-5-2 system that he may prefer to wait until summer to get the right player for the setup.
Preston don’t need to force the situation right now, and unless something amazing presents itself today, North End may choose to wait.
There is another situation though, and that’s with Bambo Diaby.
The former Barnsley defender has been training with Preston since December and has been looking to win a contract.
Released by Barnsley in October 2020, Diaby has been banned for more than two years having tested positive for higenamine.
Lowe doesn’t want to jump into a deal for Diaby until he sees the defender play, and a Central League game against Huddersfield Town last week was postponed.
That means a decision on Diaby may be more than two weeks away, with Preston still able to sign him outside of the transfer window as a free agent.
With that situation on the back burner, this could be a quiet day for Preston fans – much more so than the last January deadline day anyway!