Preston North End defender Patrick Bauer has committed his future to the club by signing a new contract until 2024.
Andrew Hughes recently extended his stay with Preston until 2024 having fared well this season as a left-sided centre back.
The lingering problem has been Bauer, whose contract was due to expire at the end of this season.
Now in January, Bauer has entered the final six months of his contract. That meant he was able to talk to other clubs with a view to a pre-contract agreement.
We understand there was interest from abroad in Bauer, but the defender has chosen to stay at Deepdale.
Signed from Charlton Athletic in 2019, Bauer has proven to be an excellent signing on a free transfer.
Strong, great in the air and a fine leader at the back, Bauer has been vital this season having bounced back from a major achilles injury.
Bauer will be vital moving forward too, playing as the central man in Ryan Lowe’s back three.
Still only 29, Bauer should still have plenty left in the tank and figures to be a key part of the Preston setup for a while yet.
Preston just couldn’t afford to lose Bauer.
Daniel Iversen and Sepp van den Berg will be leaving the club when their loan deals expire this summer, so keeping Bauer provides at least some continuity.
Add in that Preston have looked shaky at the back whenever Bauer is off the pitch – think QPR away and Nottingham Forest away this season – and it’s vital that Bauer stays.
With Bauer and Hughes signed up, the attention will now turn to Tom Barkhuizen given that his contract is also set to expire this summer.