'If we can't...' - Preston North End boss stresses transfer attempt which must be made this summer
PNE have struck gold in the loan market once again this season
Paul Heckingbottom will try his utmost to keep some of Preston North End’s loan players this summer.
It’s something the Lilywhites have not been able to do in recent years, with several loan men having impressed at PNE and then headed elsewhere, on the back of it. Alfie Devine and Lewis Dobbin have been shining lights this season while Daniel Jebbison has played a part, having the most beneficial loan of his career to date.
PNE have four matches left to play and focus will then turn to the summer, where there promises to be plenty of change once again. Last week, Heckingbottom was asked about the core group of players who’ve been around for several years - and whether they need pushing more than anyone. North End’s boss stressed how that applies to everyone in the building.
“No one's pushed more than any other.” said Heckingbottom. “It's everyone, the players, staff, Craig, Peter, Ian... I think until you've been a football manager, you’ll not get that because ultimately, if we don’t do it, it’s me who loses my job.
“They'll all still be here, so you've got to push everyone and make sure everyone gets that. I felt we made a positive first step in the summer but we've got to build on that and make sure this summer then takes us further forward again.
“Whether that's keeping our loan players, getting some more frees... we’ve still taken a step forward if we keep our loan players. If we can't, is there people we can sell to generate more money and make the squad stronger?
“They're all the things that we speak about because yeah, you certainly end up falling behind if you can't. If we can't build, we will be falling behind.
“It’s pointless working as hard as I do to try and get the deals done with the loan players if we're not going to keep, so I've always got to work hard to try and keep them. But, it'll come down to the money, without a doubt.”