PNE set to seal Grimshaw swoop

The deal for the young midfielder has taken a few days longer than expected to get done but the finishing line is in sight now.

PNE boss Grayson pointed to the medical side of the deal as being behind the delay.

“It is not far away now,” said Grayson who saw his side earn a 1-1 draw with Ipswich at Portman Road on Saturday.

“We had a couple of things which were highlighted in his medical.

“I would think he will sign today and the issue we have got will probably get resolved this week sometime.”

When Grimshaw’s deal is registered, it will be the fifth piece of incoming business done by North End during this window.

It follows on from the signing of Ben Pearson from United in a £300,000 deal, while Sam Johnstone and Callum Robinson have signed on loan.

Adam Reach’s loan from Middlesbrough has also been extended until May.

In terms of adding a striker to that list, Grayson has admitted an interest in Walsall front man Tom Bradshaw.

But he is coy about whether such interest has gone as far as making a bid.

Grayson said: “We have been linked with a lot of players.

“We are always looking for good players but it is never easy in this window with teams not wanting to sell.

“He (Bradshaw) is a player we like, he has got a lot of goals, why wouldn’t we be interested in him?”

Asked whether a bid had been made, Grayson added: “It’s not my department.”

The draw with Ipswich kept Preston in 13th place in the Championship.

Daniel Johnson put them in front in the seventh minute, taking his goals tally for the season to eight.

North End went close to extending the lead before Daryl Murphy fired the hosts level before half-time.

Both teams had cause to question decisions from the officials in the second period.

Pearson had the ball in the net after making a surging run through the Ipswich half, a one-two with Eoin Doyle on the edge of the box putting him through on goal.

Doyle was adjudged to be offside, that one put in the ‘marginal’ category by Grayson.

Ipswich appealed strongly for a penalty late in the game when a shot from Brett Pitman struck Paul Huntington on the arms – Huntington on the floor at the time having blocked another shot moments before.

Said Grayson: “The decision for the offside was really tight.

“Without having the benefit of technology to be able to draw a line across the pitch, he was either level or at the most half a yard offside.

“As for their penalty shout, it has probably hit Hunts on the hand but he was on the floor and it hit him.”