‘Two paths’ - Paul Heckingbottom provides Preston North End transfer update with deadline a week away

The transfer window slams shut on September 1, and Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom desperately wants his side to do more business.

PNE have brought in six players this summer: Lee Nicholls, Alfie Devine, Léo Leroy and Harry Clarke have been signed permanently, while Jusef Erabi and Delano Burgzorg arrived on loan deals with options-to-buy inserted.

Heckingbottom was speaking to the media ahead of North End’s Carabao Cup second round clash with Everton at Deepdale on Wednesday night.

When asked about if he was looking for more incomings aside from attacking players, he told the Lancashire Post: “We're looking to recruit to play a different shape, more attacking players, better 1v1 players on the pitch.

“But what we can't afford to do is keep chasing and chasing and then be left short. So, we're sort of going down two paths at the minute and, whichever one lands, we have to progress.

“Because I'm sitting here and I'm knowing how much work needs to be done. And also, the longer it goes on, the less confidence you have in landing your plan A and what you want.

“So, there's a lot still to do and potential big shifts in what we're trying to do as well.”

Heckingbottom told the media at the weekend that there were two wingers who PNE had agreed deals to sign, but they weren’t able to get through the door.

The North End boss told the Lancashire Post that one of the deals is ‘off the cards’, while another is ‘still alive’.

Heckingbottom has admitted that his defence haven’t yet adapted to switching to a back four after consecutive seasons of playing with three centre backs.

He told the Lancashire Post: “Have we adapted yet? No. We started pre-season [with] two games, but we didn't have anyone who could play wide.

“So, then for pre-season, to make sure we gave everyone the minutes and the system we were going to have to start the season with, we went with a back three.

“Thierry [Small] got back fit. Delano can play wide. Obviously, Alfie and Andy [Moran] aren't wide players, but they can play narrow off the side, which is no problem.

“So, if we do add good quality wide players to that, we can stay with it and keep working on it. But if we are to, we've got a lot of work to do.

“But likewise, we can't be putting square pegs in round holes as well. And if we can't get the players who fit that, then we have to shift.”

Asked about how the impending exit of Milutin Osmajic will affect the club’s transfer plans, and the task of finding a replacement for him, he said: “It’s a blow. We can't deny it's a blow.

“[It’s] not something we were planning for, but something that I was fully aware might happen with him going into his last year. In 10 days' time, he'd be worth nothing to us. So, I get that, I get that.

“But it's just more work for us to do now in the last 10 days, definitely, so we'll be busier.”