Preston North End defender Patrick Bauer is on the verge of leaving the club with reports indicating that a move to Belgian side Charleroi is imminent.
PNE have had a very, very quiet January window.
Summer spending meant North End were always going to be up against it in the January window and departures were almost certainly needed to unlock new signings.
Rumours surrounding outgoings have been thin on the ground but it now looks like central defender Patrick Bauer is on his way out of Deepdale…
Patrick Bauer set to leave PNE for Charleroi
Belgian newspaper La Derniere Heure now report that Bauer is poised to sign for Charleroi.
It’s stated that PNE and Charleroi have agreed on a move and Bauer will undergo a medical in Belgium on Monday.
Bauer has just a few months left on his North End contract, and it looks like he will be loaned out for the final stages with Charleroi then considering making the move permanent when Bauer becomes a free agent.
Bauer joined North End on a free transfer from Charlton Athletic in 2019, mere weeks after scoring the winner for the Addicks in the League One play-off final.
The 6ft 4in defender formed a fine partnership with Ben Davies in the heart of the PNE defence and racked up 41 appearances in his first season at the club.
Sadly, Bauer suffered a major Achilles injury in 2020 which saw him miss more than six months of action before finally returning in August 2021.
Bauer initially returned brilliantly but has been phased out by Ryan Lowe, making just seven league appearances in the last 18 months.
It’s clear that Bauer has no role to play at North End and the club are happy for him to move on ahead of his contract expiring.
Bauer has been a popular figure with PNE fans and has always given his all to the cause, so he will now head to Belgium with the well-wishes of supporters and, hopefully, the 31-year-old will rediscover his best form with Charleroi.
UPDATE: Charleroi-based reporter Benjamin Helson claims that Bauer is not expected to join Charleroi.
This is a strange situation with one outlet reporting that a medical is on the cards and another believing that there is no deal at all.
PNE would surely be open to letting Bauer go but whether Charleroi will be his destination remains to be seen.