Preston have been chasing a new left wing back this month, but they won’t be signing Jake Bidwell after he signed for Coventry City instead.
North End have been using Josh Earl at left wing back this season, with the homegrown talent having something of an up-and-down campaign.
Andrew Hughes and Greg Cunningham are seen more as left-sided centre backs under Ryan Lowe, though Cunningham did fill in for Earl against Birmingham on Saturday.
Lowe has admitted that he wants a ‘speedy’ option down the left flank now, and a host of left backs are being linked with Preston.
Wigan Athletic’s Tom Pearce and Northampton Town’s Ali Koiki are two of them, with Bidwell another player recently linked.
Wales Online reported last week that Preston were showing an interest in Bidwell amid questions over his role at Swansea City.
Bidwell was a target for Preston in 2019 when he left Queens Park Rangers, but picked Swansea.
Born in Southport, a move to Preston could have appealed – but Bidwell has instead joined one of North End’s Championship rivals.
Coventry City have confirmed the signing of Bidwell, handing him a three-and-a-half-year contract at the Ricoh Arena.
The 28-year-old will now be in contention to play against Preston when the two sides meet in February.
Bidwell could have been a solid signing for Preston, but he doesn’t quite fit the ‘speedy’ mould Lowe wants.
We would still expect a left wing back to come in this month, but it just won’t be Bidwell.