Freddie Woodman has opened up on his Preston North End move by admitting Ryan Lowe and Mike Marsh wanted him for months.
It was no great secret that Preston had to bring in a couple of goalkeepers over the summer window.
Player of the Year Daniel Iversen had returned to parent club Leicester City whilst Declan Rudd announced his retirement.
Connor Ripley, Mathew Hudson, Oliver Lombard and Declyn Duggan were all released, meaning North End had lost six goalkeepers across various levels.
North End went big with their main goalkeeping addition, securing Woodman on a permanent basis from Newcastle United.
A proven Championship star with Swansea City, Woodman represented a huge coup for Preston.
The results so far have been great. Woodman became the first goalkeeper in North End history to start a season with six clean sheets.
Woodman spent so long in the shadows at Newcastle that he now seems to be loving playing a starring role with Preston.
The 25-year-old has now opened up about his move to Deepdale – and highlighted just how long Ryan Lowe wanted to sign him.
Woodman has told North End’s official website that Lowe and assistant Mike Marsh – who worked with Woodman at Swansea – made their interest clear some time ago.
Woodman was an unused substitute as Bournemouth lost 2-1 to Preston at Deepdale back in March.
The goalkeeper has admitted that Lowe and Marsh made it clear to him that day that they wanted to sign him.
Woodman was interested in joining Preston from that day on, with Lowe and Marsh putting the deal into motion more than three months before securing his signature.
“You know, it’s funny because obviously I came to Deepdale when I was at Bournemouth and we lost the game 2-1, but the manager [Ryan Lowe] and Marshy [Mike Marsh] gave me the heads up there to say they were interested in me,” said Woodman.
“Ever since then I’ve kept a close eye on Preston and I was really interested in coming here,” he added.
It’s great to hear that Lowe and Marsh have that kind of pulling power, especially on a proven player like Woodman.
We can only hope that they are given the chance to bring more quality players to Preston down the line with North End still needing additions in key areas.