Preston North End are prioritising a left wing back in this month’s transfer window according to The Sun’s Alan Nixon.
Nixon has taken to Twitter to claim that Preston are ‘for sure’ looking to snap up a left wing back to bolster Ryan Lowe’s squad.
Josh Earl currently occupies that role in the Preston team but has been a little up and down this season.
There are also question marks over Earl’s quality into the box, which doesn’t quite match his athletic ability right now.
Add in that Greg Cunningham is more suited to a left-sided centre back role under Lowe, and you can see why Preston are eyeing a signing.
So who could Preston sign?
The natural link will be to Conor Grant, who was managed by Lowe at Plymouth Argyle.
Grant, 27, has bagged five goals and three assists this season. Formerly a central midfielder, Lowe converted Grant to a left wing back, and he recorded 12 assists last season.
Plymouth won’t sell easily to Lowe, and Preston may need to look further afield.
If Lowe likes a left wing back who can play in midfield, Stuttgart’s England youth international Clinton Mola could make sense.
Former Chelsea talent Mola is available for loan this month, and previously worked with Lowe’s assistant Mike Marsh in the England Under-17 setup.
In the lower leagues, Forest Green Rovers ace Nicky Cadden is quick, direct and has impressed going forward this season with six goals and six assists.
Wimbledon’s Nesta Guinness-Walker is another attack-minded wing back who has been linked with Championship clubs in Huddersfield Town, Bristol City and Middlesbrough.
It’s unclear who Preston will go for, but adding competition for Earl has to be a top priority this month.