Preston stunned many on Friday by confirming the signing of Coventry City midfielder Tom Bayliss.
North End had signed Andre Green on loan from Aston Villa on Thursday, and just hours later, confirmed the arrival of Bayliss.
Linked with various Premier League and Championship teams, Bayliss has been tipped for a huge future. The 20-year-old is a progressive runner and passer, giving North End an extra edge going forward.
Bayliss has been put in the same bracket as James Maddison and Callum Wilson in terms of Coventry’s academy graduates, and if he can hit their levels, Preston have secured a bargain.
North End paid around £2million for Bayliss, which is a club-record fee. Coventry will likely have a hefty sell-on in the deal, but this still represents great business.
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Bayliss – if he continues the path he’s on – will make North End a big profit, and that’s the view of one League One chairman too.
Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony took to Twitter on Friday to talk about the deal. He feels that Preston have been ‘shrewd’ with the move, branding it ‘bargain business’.
MacAnthony added that he predicts Preston will Bayliss in the next two or three years, such is his potential. However, he thinks the fee would be around £14million to £16million, which would be a record sale for the club.