Preston have eyed Callum Robinson but the West Bromwich Albion striker may instead be heading for Cardiff City.
North End boss Ryan Lowe has made it clear since the end of last season that he wants two strikers signed this summer.
One striker has come in with Troy Parrott arriving on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
That deal was more than a month ago though and Preston don’t look any closer to landing that elusive second striker signing.
Few names have even been mentioned, leaving fans to wonder if North End are holding out for a late Callum Robinson return.
The Express and Star reported earlier this summer that Preston are trying to lure Robinson back to Deepdale some three years since selling him to Sheffield United.
The message seemed clear at the time; Preston wanted a loan deal, West Brom would only sanction a permanent deal and the figures involved were beyond North End.
Time has ticked on without much progress, but Preston fans suddenly had hope again on Tuesday.
Firstly, West Brom are on the verge of signing a new attacker themselves with Salford City’s Brandon Thomas-Asante set for The Hawthorns.
Sky Sports report that West Brom have agreed a £500,000 fee with Salford and are now on the verge of signing Thomas-Asante.
The 23-year-old has shown huge promise with Salford and as a quick, versatile forward who can play all across the front line, his arrival has sparked questions about Robinson.
West Brom then named their team to face Wigan Athletic on Tuesday evening and there was no Robinson; not in the starting lineup, not even on the bench.
Robinson at least came off the bench against Huddersfield Town at the weekend but wasn’t involved at all in the 1-1 draw at Wigan.
No injury has been reported and Preston fans suddenly hoped once again that Robinson could make a dramatic late return to North End.
Unfortunately, it sounds like Robinson is heading elsewhere.
Sky Sports report that Cardiff City are now in talks to sign Robinson ahead of Thursday’s deadline.
Bluebirds boss Steve Morison is keen for more attacking support and has turned to Robinson for goals.
This will feel like a gut-punch for Preston fans, who will have been confident that if the Irish international was going anywhere this summer, it would be North End.
Instead, a Championship rival are swooping in and are now favourites to sign Robinson just as North End desperately need a new striker.