Preston are keen on signing Oxford United midfielder Cameron Brannagan – but face a battle with Blackpool and other Championship clubs.
That’s according to a report from The Sun, who claim that five clubs are vying for Brannagan’s signature.
It’s stated that Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City all want to sign Brannagan this summer.
Then there is Preston as well as our bitter rivals Blackpool in the race, which may not be a huge surprise.
Blackpool were chasing Brannagan desperately in January and made four bids for the midfielder.
The final bid was worth around £1million according to Lancs Live, but Oxford still said no.
Blackpool were always likely to return with new offers for Brannagan this summer but Preston are now in the mix too.
The report claims that all five clubs have enquired about Brannagan in the hope of setting up a deal.
Brannagan, 25, has been superb for Oxford this season. The midfielder won the Fans’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards whilst bagging 14 goals and three assists.
That kind of goal return would be nice in the Preston midfield and you can understand the rumours.
Brannagan is ready to step up from League One and would surely fancy a return to the North West having been born in Manchester.
It’s also worth noting that when Preston assistant Mike Marsh was managing Liverpool’s Under-18’s, Brannagan was coming through that squad.
Marsh will know all about Brannagan and may well be a factor in Preston’s interest – if true, of course.
Still, it’s hard to see Preston spending big on another midfielder for big money as things stand.
Ben Whiteman, Alan Browne and Daniel Johnson have been Ryan Lowe’s trusted midfield trio whilst Ryan Ledson and Ali McCann are also in the mix.
It’s somewhat ironic that Brannagan is the man who essentially replaced Ledson in the Oxford side.
If Preston are to sign another midfielder, it would need to be a real playmaker who can ease the burden on Johnson.
Brannagan is technically very good but may be more of an all-round midfielder than a creator like Johnson.
For that reason, we can’t see Preston paying a seven-figure fee for Brannagan unless Browne or Johnson were to move on any time soon.