We have recently spoken about the potential of a transfer fight between Preston North End and Sunderland ahead of the summer window.
The man in question is winger Liam Millar, with the PNE winger heading back to parent club Basel at the end of the season.
Millar has hit five goals and five assists whilst on loan at North End and has dazzled fans with his trickery down the left flank.
North End will surely look into a permanent deal for the Canadian but his displays at Deepdale have not gone unnoticed.
Reports in January suggested that Sunderland have been looking at Millar as a potential replacement for star winger Jack Clarke.
Clarke is attracting Premier League interest ahead of the summer transfer window and Sunderland are seemingly looking towards Millar.
Millar has admitted that he is settled in the North West, so that could help PNE’s cause, but Sunderland have now joined the race for another PNE-linked talent.
Sunderland want PNE-linked goalkeeper
The Sun’s Alan Nixon reports that Sunderland are eyeing up a move for Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Sam Tickle.
Tickle made his England Under-21 debut last week and Sunderland are thought to be chasing him as a potential replacement for Anthony Patterson.
Patterson is attracting Premier League interest and Wigan star Tickle is being viewed as a possible replacement.
Nixon suggested in January that PNE had shown an interest in signing Tickle ahead of the transfer deadline.
No move materialised and it now looks like Sunderland could offer competition if PNE show an interest this summer, just like with Millar.
Do North End need Sam Tickle?
We wouldn’t anticipate PNE being in the race for Tickle this summer though, unless Freddie Woodman leaves North End.
Spending on Tickle – which is unlikely to be cheap despite him being in League One – just wouldn’t quite add up with Woodman still at the club.
Woodman is though entering the final year of his contract at Deepdale and PNE may have Tickle on the radar as a potential replacement if needed.
Tickle has certainly impressed at Wigan but we can’t see him being a top priority for North End this summer – certainly not over Millar.