Reports: Preston North End pushing to sign Stanley Mills before the weekend rather than in January

Preston North End are pushing to sign Oxford United winger Stanley Mills before Saturday rather then in January, a new report claims.

Oxford boss Aaron Ramsey told the media two weeks ago that a deal had been agreed for Mills to join PNE in January, but now it appears the situation has changed.

Alan Nixon is reporting that North End are pushing to sign Mills this summer in a £2.5m deal, and Paul Heckingbottom wants him in before they take on Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

Nixon adds that Mills will agree personal terms with PNE quickly, while the U’s are actively looking at players despite their ongoing transfer restrictions, as they accept the deal will be ‘brought forward’.

What Ramsey had previously said about Mills’ future

The Oxford chief told the press on August 14 that no players would leave the club during the summer window.

He told BBC Oxford Sport: “The statement has been pretty clear, that we’re retaining our squad. We’re going to need every single one of them, with the situation we’re in and we can’t bring anybody in. So, yeah, we’re going to need everybody available for that.”

He continued: “[Mills] has agreed a deal to go to Preston in January and, listen, it’s far from ideal, I can totally understand that, one day before the beginning of the season.

“What it does mean is we get Stan now for the next four, five months, and then when January comes around, we’ll be in a completely different position where we can be really aggressive in the market and we’ll have to strengthen our squad.”