It's a little over a month till the January transfer window opens and it will be interesting to see what Preston North End do.
Ryan Lowe's side are currently fifth in the Championship table, and you have to say that the summer transfer business has been spot on. Money has been spent to bring in Liam Millar on loan, whilst Milutin Osmajic became the club record transfer signing after arriving from Spanish club Cadiz.
The free transfer market isn't something you think PNE will use, but should they encounter an injury or suspension crisis in any areas of the pitch then it is a good thing to fall back on. The risk with signing players who are free agents when the season is almost half-way through is that it takes time for them to get up to speed, whereas you might want a quick fix to rectify a short-term problem.
It shouldn't put off clubs entirely from signing them however, as they come without a transfer fee, and depending on how long they've been without a club then their wage demands might not be too high either. One former PNE player released this summer is still without a club despite training with Championship rivals Stoke City this summer. It goes to show that despite being a free agent, sometimes transfers aren't all that straight forward.
Flick through to see a list of players who could be considered as signings for Preston North End. Are any of these of interest to you, or do you expect money to be exchanged for players when the window opens?
5. Shkodran Mustafi
The 31-year-old is most known for playing for Arsenal between 2016 and 2021, and is a two-time FA Cup winner. Mustafi is a free agent now after leaving Levante last summer, and he was offered to Jose Mourinho's AS Roma according to reports in Italy, but they rejected it. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
6. Anwar El Ghazi
He was released by Mainz following a short spell in Germany. He's a former Aston Villa player, and has fond memories at Villa Park. He won't be able to sign for a club until January however. | ANP/AFP via Getty Images
7. Stefan Johansen
Released by QPR in the summer, and is now a free agent at 32-years-old. He's got more than 200 Championship games under his belt with 36 assists and 27 goals. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
8. Steven Caulker
The 31-year-old has been without a club since leaving Wigan Athletic. He's played for various clubs in England, and could be a good back-up option to consier at centre-back. | Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images) Photo: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)