West Bromwich Albion defender Cedric Kipre is in line to face Preston North End having almost joined the club back in 2021.
Cast your minds back to January 2021.
This was one of the busiest PNE transfer windows in memory – especially for a January window.
North End overhauled the squad with eight new signings and eight departures during a COVID-impacted season.
PNE brought in two defenders; Sepp van den Berg came in on loan from Liverpool as part of the Ben Davies deal, becoming a firm fan favourite.
Liam Lindsay came in from Stoke City too, offering a left-footed option at the back following the Davies departure.
PNE did look at other options though – including Cedric Kipre.
Cedric Kipre could face PNE after missing out on Deepdale move
As reported by Lancs Live, PNE had agreed a deal to take Kipre on loan for the remainder of the 2020-21 season.
However, North End scrapped the move with Van den Berg and Lindsay arriving instead, leaving Kipre to head to Belgium with Charleroi.
The 26-year-old had barely featured for West Brom following a move from Wigan Athletic and it looked like he would be heading out of the club.
A loan move to Cardiff City last season didn’t really help the idea of Kipre saving his West Brom career but he may well be in action today.
The Ivorian centre back has started seven of West Brom’s eight games this season but was only on the bench against Millwall last week.
Kipre may be back in contention for a start today though with his physical abilities maybe seen as a way to cope with Milutin Osmajic.
Things could have been very different for Kipre; he could have become a loan favourite at PNE like Van den Berg or secure a permanent move like Lindsay.
That didn’t happen and with Kipre looking to nail down a regular starting spot, he will be desperate to shine against PNE today.