Preston North End striker search is ongoing with Aston Villa man latest to be linked

Ideally, the Lilywhites had wanted to land a new recruit before the campaign kicks off.

With Swansea City visiting Deepdale on Saturday, time is ticking away for that to happen.

The international transfer window shuts on October 5 but there follows a domestic-only window for EFL clubs until October 16.

PNE have looked at a list of strikers in recent weeks in a bid to bolster their frontline.

They even made moves to bring in a player from abroad which is a change of policy for them.

That was Ferdy Druijf from AZ Alkmaar in Holland, with North End looking to bring him in on loan for the season with a view to a permanent deal. However, PNE’s interest prompted Alkmaar to offer him a new four-year contract which he has signed.

Aston Villa striker Keinan Davis is a name doing the rounds as a potential loan target.

North End’s interest in him dates back to last summer when they took Andre Green on loan from Villa. Davis was not available then but their interest remains.

The 22-year-old made four Premier League starts last season and came off the bench 14 times.

In his Villa career he has scored four goals – two in the Championship and one each in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

The thinking is that Davis might become available on loan as Villa add to their squad.

They landed Ollie Watkins from Brentford yesterday in a club record £28m deal.

It is believed Villa want another striker too, Josh King at Bournemouth another player who has been linked with a move to Villa Park.

North End and their fellow Championship clubs are tied to new rules regarding squad size this season.

They can carry a squad of 25 players who are 21 and over, and an unlimited number of Under-21s.

Loan signings, regardless of age, are included on the 25-player limit.

PNE are looking to off-load David Nugent to make room in the squad. He has been given time away from Springfields this week to try and find a new club.

Nugent, who signed a two-year contract when he rejoined Preston last summer after leaving Derby County, has held talks with Northampton Town.

There are other clubs interested too in the 35-year-old striker.

Clubs have to register their squads once the transfer window shuts next month, so the clock is not quite ticking on that front yet.