Preston North End to make significant push to beat Championship rivals to out of contract League One star

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Preston North End’s narrow escape from relegation on the final day of the season will be on the mind of Paul Heckingbottom all summer long, and vast improvements are needed in 2025/26.

Despite sitting comfortably in mid-table for the majority of the run-in, an abysmal end to the campaign saw the Lilywhites threatened by the drop heading into gameweek 46 – although a 2-2 draw with Bristol City ensured their survival.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
17	Oxford UnitedOxford United	46	13	14	19	49	65	-16	53
18	Stoke CityStoke City	46	12	15	19	45	62	-17	51
19	DerbyDerby	46	13	11	22	48	56	-8	50
20	PrestonPreston	46	10	20	16	48	59	-11	50
21	Hull CityHull City	46	12	13	21	44	54	-10	49
22	LutonLuton	46	13	10	23	45	69	-24	49
23	PlymouthPlymouth	46	11	13	22	51	88	-37	46

Nevertheless, it is clear to see that the Lancashire outfit now have to strengthen to avoid finding themselves in a similar position next April and work has already started in identifying one target.

Heckingbottom utilised a variation of a 5-3-2 for the majority of 2024/25, and with wing-backs needed, Preston North End will have to move quickly to sign the players that they need as their rivals lurk.

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Preston North End prepare to make push for Thierry Small

Thierry Small’s future at Charlton Athletic looks to be over, despite the Addicks’ chance of featuring in the Championship next season.

The left-back has had an excellent year at The Valley, and as per Alan Nixon, a number of clubs in the second and third tier are interested in making a move for him this summer.

Both Blackburn Rovers and Leyton Orient are evaluating the 20-year-old, but Preston are set to make the first advance for the soon to be out of contract defender in what will be a very busy summer for Heckingbottom.

Rovers are pushing to seal a new agreement with Callum Brittain, however, and this makes Small less of an important target for them – something that could hand their Lancashire rivals the advantage ahead of the EFL transfer window opening.

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Paul Heckingbottom has to get this summer transfer window right

Following the disappointment that was the 2024/25 season, the Lilywhites have to ensure that they do not waste this transfer window as their competition will strengthen quickly.

With the likes of Birmingham City and Wrexham now in the Championship, the league has only improved and Preston North End cannot afford to be left behind by those who are making their way into the division from both the Premier League and third tier.

Small would vastly improve the left side of Heckingbottom’s team, and at just 20, he has years of improvement to come.

However, there will surely be more twists and turns in this saga as the weeks roll on, and the young defender will only have more suitors in the coming days.