Preston are being linked with Ravel Morrison but face competition from both Huddersfield Town and Sunderland.
North End secured a first summer signing on Tuesday evening as goalkeeper Freddie Woodman arrived from Newcastle United.
Another goalkeeper appears to be coming in with ex-Peterborough United stopper David Cornell reportedly inbound.
Preston ultimately need a number of other signings though and rumours continue to emerge, with one strange link being reported on Thursday evening.
Preston are being linked with Ravel Morrison
Football Insider report that Preston are interested in signing playmaker Morrison from Derby County.
Morrison’s deal with Derby expires next week, meaning he will be able to sign for absolutely nothing.
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The report claims that Morrison is also wanted by Huddersfield Town and Sunderland on a free transfer.
Morrison scored a winner against Preston in April and may have caught North End’s eye.
Morrison also knows Preston ace Daniel Johnson from the Jamaican national team setup, so that could appeal to the former Manchester United man.
Is this really the kind of move North End should be making though?
Morrison’s off-field issues have been well-documented over the years and his lack of real application has seen him become something of a nomad.
Since leaving Manchester United in 2012, Morrison has turned out for West Ham United, Birmingham City, Queens Park Rangers, Cardiff City, Lazio, QPR again, Atlas, Ostersund, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, ADO Den Haag and Derby.
A hugely talented player, Morrison has never maximised his potential and has only ever made 144 league appearances in his career.
Morrison seemed to get back on track a little under Wayne Rooney last season but still recorded more yellow cards (nine) than combined goals and assists (eight; four goals, four assists).
The penny just hasn’t dropped with Morrison and the theme has been the same; his attitude and application just hasn’t been there.
Ryan Lowe has talked up wanting attitude and application from all involved at Preston, and he ditched both Izzy Brown and Josh Murphy for not meeting the required standards.
Would Preston then take a punt on Morrison? It would seem to go against everything Lowe has talked up, even if Morrison’s technical ability and playmaking quality would make him potentially ideal to support Johnson.
Add in that it’s usually an agent-led story when Football Insider link three clubs with one player and we’re not reading too much into this rumour.
Rumour rating: 3/10. Morrison’s reputation is well-known and if Lowe didn’t want Brown or Murphy, we can’t see him wanting Morrison either. A free transfer is enticing but gambles on the likes of Brown and Connor Wickham didn’t pay off last summer and going for Morrison would feel like a return to that approach.