What next for Preston North End midfielder Daniel Johnson?

The creative midfielder sat out Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Swansea in the aftermath of a spike of speculation about his future.

It now remains to be seen whether Johnson will return to PNE’s squad for tomorrow evening’s trip to Derby in the Carabao Cup.

Reports surfaced on Friday afternoon that Rangers were in for the 27-year-old.

A £2m fee was mentioned in the media, a figure way below North End’s value of Johnson.

In fact it is understood that when Rangers enquired about him, the Ibrox outfit were talking somewhat less than £2m – and that to be paid in stages.

Although the story came out on Friday, the enquiry is thought to have come some days before that and Rangers have yet to come back with anything new.

The Glaswegians could well return with a firmer offer but the ball is in their court on that score.

A move to Rangers would appeal to Johnson who is in the final year of his contract at Deepdale.

While people will have their own views of the SPL, Rangers can offer Europa League football and the size of the club is there to see.

Johnson, who joined PNE in a bargain £50,000 move from Aston Villa in January 2015, watched the Swansea game from the Invincibles Pavilion.

He was at Springfields yesterday with the rest of the North End squad.

Lilywhites boss Alex Neil was reluctant to talk about Johnson’s situation in the Zoom press conference after the Swansea defeat.

He was somewhat terse in his answers on the subject of Johnson not playing and on squad strengthening.

On Johnson’s situation, Neil said: “Listen, I’m not going to discuss any individual players’ situation, I don’t think that is fair.

“People will jump to their own conclusions without really understanding the situation. I’m not going to comment on it.”

Johnson is not the only Preston player to have some speculation surrounding him.

Ben Davies, who like Johnson is in the last year of his contract, was linked with a move to Bournemouth by a Sunday newspaper.

With the main transfer window open until October 5 and EFL clubs having a fortnight’s domestic window beyond that to October 16, such speculation could become commonplace.

Davies was in the starting XI against Swansea, partnered in the centre of defence by Jordan Storey rather than Patrick Bauer.