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Preston looking to make at least eight gs

Aiming for a minimum of eight new faces - Ridsdale

Preston North End are this week hopeful of landing the first two of a minimum of eight gs they are looking to make this summer.

Chief executive Peter Ridsdale says the departure of four senior players, with Ched Evans also discussing his position as a coach after not being offered a new playing contract, means large-scale change is necessary.

"If you assume we're going to get a goalkeeper and that Robbie [Brady] stays, we've probably got 14 first-choice players available for selection," Ridsdale told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"[Manager] Paul [Heckingbottom] wants a squad of a minimum 22, without the kids, which pre-supposes we have to bring eight players in.

"Clearly the forward line is a priority, wing-backs because of loans we've had, and in midfield, given Ryan [Ledson] has gone, Paul is looking for a right-footed midfield player.

"If this week goes as well as I hope, we will have two signed of the eight minimum."

Ridsdale added he is "totally confident" the club will bring in their first-choice goalkeeper as a replacement for Freddie Woodman, who will leave the club next month after three seasons.

Riis had 'no interest in staying'

Leicester City's Denmark Under-21 keeper Daniel Iversen, who had successful loan spells at Deepdale in 2020-21 and 2021-22, has been strongly linked with a move to the club.

The departure of this season's leading goalscorer Emil Riis, and of Evans from the playing ranks, means a striker is also a necessity, while the club is also in the market for a midfielder, two wing-backs and one more centre-back.

Ridsdale revealed he made a last-ditch attempt to persuade Riis to stay, but the Denmark Under-21 international wanted to move on.

"Emil made it clear he wouldn't discuss with us. We shook his hand last week and he went with our best wishes," said the former Leeds United chairman.

"He has said all season, 'Don't talk to my agent about a contract, I'm going to see what's out there at the end of the season'.

"I even asked him last Monday before he went, 'Look, we'll make it clear we would talk to you about a deal if you wanted to stay' and he said 'I have no interest in staying, not because I don't like it, but because I'm at the stage of my career where I'd like to see what's out there in the broader market'.

"The rest of the players we accepted were coming to the end of their contracts, with the exception of Robbie Brady, and we made him an offer. I think we're pretty close to getting that deal done."

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