Back in May, we reported that Preston were interested in snapping up Manchester City goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.
North End were hoping to use their links to City to strike a deal, having taken Lukas Nmecha and Brandon Barker on loan last season. With some question marks over Declan Rudd, the Kosovo international was seen as a potential first-choice goalkeeper at Deepdale.
Preston missed out though, as Nottingham Forest swooped in to take Muric on loan. Able to pay a bigger chunk of Muric’s considerable wages, Forest were picked as Muric’s new home – but the warning signs arrived quickly.
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Martin O’Neill was sacked and immediately replaced by Sabri Lamouchi, Muric endured a tricky pre-season, and Forest then spent millions on another goalkeeper in Brice Samba.
When Muric started the season poorly, Samba took his spot – and didn’t give it up. Muric hasn’t played a league game since August 21st, and it seems that his time at the City Ground is coming to an end.
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The Manchester Evening News report that City will recall Muric from his dismal loan spell with Forest. It’s noted that the 21-year-old could head out on loan again, rather than join Ederson, Claudio Bravo and Scott Carson in the City goalkeeping ranks.
That may give Preston another shot at Muric, but would we really want to now? Declan Rudd hasn’t fared badly this season, and whilst Connor Ripley struggled against Norwich City on Saturday, bringing in Muric would surely lead to him sitting on the bench again.
Muric is a talented stopper, but is woefully short of confidence based on his Forest spell. It seems like North End had a lucky escape not signing Muric, and whilst he’s available again, a goalkeeper should only really be signed this month if they’re going to vastly improve the North End side – and Muric may no longer be that man after his Forest nightmare.