Preston North End appear to be closing in on a new striker after Cameron Archer was left out of the Aston Villa squad to face Everton today.
Ryan Lowe has been keen to bring in another striker this moth and you can hardly blame him.
Emil Riis has ended his goal drought and Ched Evans has offered a real impact off the bench.
Yet with Scott Sinclair out of contract this summer and Seani Maguire having just one goal to his name in the Championship this season, Preston need other goal threats.
A target this month has been Villa talent Archer, with the Daily Mail first reporting North End’s interest.
We then reported on Thursday that a deal for Archer was moving in the right direction as Preston worked away on a loan move.
That deal now looks set to go through after Archer was left out of the Villa squad against Everton today.
Birmingham Live’s Ashley Preece has taken to Twitter today to report that Archer isn’t involved because he is finalising his move to Preston.
A key factor in the move is that Preston manager Lowe is close friends with Villa boss Steven Gerrard.
The likes of Jamie Barjonas, Zak Rudden and Ryan Hardie have all joined Lowe off the back of agreements with or recommendations from Gerrard.
The pair know each other well from the Liverpool football scene and are now striking a deal for Archer to join Preston.
This looks to be an exciting move. Archer, 20, hit six goals in four EFL Trophy games this season as well las four goals in two EFL Cup games – including a goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Villa have high hopes for Archer, and Preston will now hope to see him get in the goals during his time at Deepdale, with a move seemingly imminent.