The new Championship season is just days away as all of the hope of expectation continues to grow at clubs across English football’s second tier.
New signings have been made, the friendly fixtures are completed and the stresses and strains of pre-season training have all been focused towards being fully prepared this coming weekend when the new campaign gets underway.
For Preston North End, that means a short trip to newly-promoted Wigan Athletic as Ryan Lowe’s side look to improve on last season’s mid-table finish and push towards a play-off spot.
Lowe has been active in the transfer market with the likes of Newcastle United goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and former Liverpool attacking midfielder Ben Woodburn moving to Deepdale during the close-season - and one more new addition is reportedly close to be added to the North End squad ahead of the big kick-off.
The LEP takes a look at the latest transfer speculation surrounding North End and their Championship rivals.
1. Future remains unclear for QPR defender
QPR manager Michael Beale has confirmed ‘no decision’ has been made on the future of defender Conor Masterson (West London Sport) Photo: George Wood
2. Royals set to sign former Terriers star
Reading have agreed a deal to sign former Huddersfield Town centre-back Naby Sarr after he left the Terriers last month (Football Insider) Photo: Gareth Copley
3. Clarets midfielder has new interest
Shrewsbury Town are the latest club to show an interest in Burnley midfielder Adam Phillips (Shropshire Star) Photo: Pete Norton
4. Boro want to take £8m Premier League striker on loan
Middlesbrough are thought to be interested in signing Rodrigo Muniz from Fulham this summer, a year after he joined the Cottagers for £8m (Northern Echo) Photo: Getty Images