Preston wanted Andre Gray but may be about to miss out on the free agent striker amid claims that he will sign for Aris Thessaloniki.
North End clearly need new firepower this summer given that loanee Cameron Archer has returned to Aston Villa.
Add in that Seani Maguire and Ched Evans only managed three goals between them all last season and none under Ryan Lowe and a new striker is a must.
Lowe has been targeting experienced Championship performers and it looked like Gray had become his top target.
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Preston wanted Andre Gray
Gray was released by Watford this summer and Preston appeared to have hope of a deal.
Close friends with Daniel Johnson and available for nothing, Gray is understood to have been in talks with North End of late.
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The 30-year-old has been taking his time deciding his next club and Preston have been waiting for his final decision.
It now seems that Gray has chosen a move to Greece rather than heading to Deepdale.
Greek journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos of Greek news outlet Sportime has today reported that Gray has agreed to join Aris Thessaloniki.
It’s stated that Gray will arrive for his medical with Aris over the weekend with a deal now ‘done’.
Aris finished third in the Greek Super League last season, meaning they head into the Europa Conference League.
After years of playing in the Premier League and Championship, it now seems that Gray wants to try something completely new over in Greece.
That is a huge blow to Preston’s summer transfer plans and a lengthy pursuit of Gray now appears to be amounting to nothing.
North End will have to go back to the drawing board in pursuit of a new striker and will ultimately have to hope for more success with the next target.