Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic says he has no interest in letting defender Cody Drameh, 23, go this summer despite interest from Derby County and Preston North End. (Hull Daily Mail), external
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.
Image source, Rex FeaturesNew Preston North End signing Michael Smith says he "can't wait to get going" following his move from Sheffield Wednesday earlier this week.
The 33-year-old left the Owls after his contract was ended by "mutual consent" along with former team-mate Josh Windass, who has subsequently moved to Wrexham.
Smith scored for Wednesday against Preston in a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough last December and is looking forward to reuniting with head coach Paul Heckingbottom, who he also worked with during a loan spell at Barnsley in 2015-16.
"Even at my age, with my experience, it's still always a little bit nerve-wracking coming into a new club but it seems like a good group to be a part of," Smith told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"The settling in period comes and goes really quickly. I'm going to have to play catch up a little bit but I've managed to get some runs in so I can't wait to get going.
"Obviously I've played under the manager before so I sort of know how he works. I want to come here and keep trying to get better even at my age.
"I know I've missed the pre-season trip so I'll be spending a lot of time getting to know the squad and on the training ground - hopefully it stands us in good stead come August.
"I've never had a good game there [at Deepdale] as an away player so I'm looking to change that but it's always been a stadium I've enjoyed playing at."
Coventry City, Derby County and Oxford United are interested in 32-year-old German defender Patrick Bauer, formerly of Preston North End. (SportsBoom, external)
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.
Luton keeper Jack Walton, 27, could leave Kenilworth Road for Preston after the Hatters signed Josh Keeley from Tottenham. (Luton Today, external)
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.
Image source, Getty ImagesMontenegro defender Andrija Vukcevic has joined up with Preston North End for a week-long trial at their training camp in Valencia.
The 28-year-old, who has 18 international caps, is without a club after leaving Mexican side FC Juarez in July.
He spent last season on loan to Spanish side FC Cartagena, making 23 appearances in LaLiga2, plus one in their Copa del Rey match against SD Beasain.
Vukcevic could face a Spanish team during his trial with the Lilywhites as North End's training week will culminate with a pre-season friendly against Getafe.
Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire sports editor
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Paul Heckingbottom rebuild is well under way.
Half a dozen new players registered before the second week of July, which is ideal for a North End boss experiencing pre-season with the club for the first time.
Generally, each position should have two players. There is still work to do in that regard, but you can see signs that Heckingbottom's strongest XI (if there is such a thing these days) is looking stronger than it did in May.
Daniel Iversen will be the undisputed number one. If he's fit, he plays. A seven-figure sum for Odel Offiah from Brighton would also indicate he'll be at the forefront of the manager's thoughts.
In less than a year, Heckingbottom has changed his number one, added two centre-backs (Offiah and Gibson) and both wing-back positions have undergone surgery with Pol Valentin and Thierry Small arriving to replace Premier League loan players.
Heckingbottom's go-to formation has been a back three, but Offiah could open the door to switch to a four, should he mix things up from time to time. Offiah's loan at Blackpool last season saw him have a prolonged spell at right-back.
Small's arrival from Charlton has excited the fan base. This will be his first taste of Championship action at the age of 20 and perhaps he needs time to settle in to the level. His only season of regular first-team football was a promotion with Charlton last season from League One.
Valentin offers more experience at 28 and has been in and out of Sheffield Wednesday's starting XI over the past two years.
The forward area is the one in most need of further reinforcements. Emil Riis and Ched Evans are no longer on the roster.
Will Keane and Milutin Osmajic have both been linked with moves away but a departure for either is extremely unlikely unless the numbers in that department drastically change.
Canada international Daniel Jebbison, a loan arrival from Bournemouth, has played under Heckingbottom before at Sheffield United, and he's come to play. His goal output is an area to work on, but with regular football and belief from his manager, he'll be given every opportunity.
It's a case of watch this space for more forwards to move to Deepdale. If another loan from a top-flight club is being sought, that might have to wait for Premier League overseas trips to conclude.
As for the engine room, Jordan Thompson is a reliable option with Championship experience under his belt. He's made 42 starts in the last three second-tier seasons and addresses Heckingbottom's admission that his midfield was lacking left-footed options.
So, six in, so far… it wouldn't be a shock if we're talking double figures in terms of arrivals by the time the window closes.
Preston North End are set to beat Charlton Athletic and QPR to the signing of Brighton defender Odeluga Offiah. (London World), external
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.
Preston journalist on Kesler-Hayden
"He's pretty dynamic - he's a really strong athlete and really pacy as well."
"He's still 22, and there's still improvement to come but on the whole Preston would have loved to have kept him."
BBC CWR's Will Oelrich spoke to BBC Lancashire's Gary Hunt about Coventry's rumoured pursuit of Aston Villa defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden, who spent last season on loan at Preston North End.
The EFL fixture list is out and we know you are bursting to know what you've got to look forward to - or dread - from your team this upcoming season.
Here are some key dates to put in your diary:
9 August 2025 - v QPR (A)
16 August 2025 - v Leicester City (H)
26 December 2025 - v Stoke City (A)
1 January 2026 - v Sheffield Wednesday (H)
2 May 2026 - v Southampton (H)
See Preston North End's full fixture list here.
Birmingham have joined the likes of Hull, Preston, Swansea and Southampton in the hunt for Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien, 26. (Alan Nixon, external - requires subscription)
Want more EFL transfer rumours? Check out Thursday's full gossip column
Your club will soon discover their schedule for the upcoming EFL season. As soon as Thursday, in fact.
Want to know who your side will face on opening day? The EFL fixtures will be announced at 12:00 BST - but that's not all.
The day will be rounded off by the first round of Carabao Cup being drawn at 16:30 BST.
So check back on 26 June to see who your team faces first, last and everything in between.
Ian Bryson, Graeme Atkinson, Martin Atherton and John Roper joined BBC Radio Lancashire to relive their 1996 Division Three triumph
Former Preston North End captain Ian Bryson says he's impressed by the club's early recruitment this summer, which has seen five new players added to Paul Heckingbottom's squad.
The club have signed goalkeeper Daniel Iversen, defenders Pol Valentin and Thierry Small and midfielder Jordan Thompson while most recently striker Daniel Jebbison agreed a season-long loan from Bournemouth.
Bryson, who captained North End to the Division Three title in 1996, told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I think it's really, really good. It's unusual for Preston - we tend not to, in recent years, get players in until the windows going on and pre-season is well under way.
"I believe that Paul gave [the recruitment team] a list saying 'I want those players, go and get them' and it looks like that's happened.
"To get five in is really good. It's about getting that squad together. My biggest thing in the whole of football is team spirit – end of story.
"If you've got a team of 20 lads out there that want to fight and work for each other, you can be successful. So to get these players in now, get them involved with the rest of the squad early enough, it creates that camaraderie that gives you a chance."
