Preston North End are interested in 23-year-old left-back Bryan Hein, who is out of contract with 2. Bundesliga club Jahn Regensburg.
North End are also closing in on a new contract for defender Liam Lindsay, 29, who has made 24 appearances for the club across all competitions this season. (Lancashire Post, external)
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip here.
West Bromwich Albion look set to sign Standard Liege midfielder Isaac Price after reported interest from Preston North End. (Lancashire Post), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column.
Image source, Rex FeaturesPaul Heckingbottom's side did not manage an attempt on target against Luton
Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom spoke to BBC Lancashire following his side's 0-0 draw against Luton Town.
He said: "I'm really pleased - from minute one to the end.
"It became a little bit tricky when Luton made the change, so we didn't know what team they would pick or how they would set up tactically. But we just concentrated on ourselves .
"At times we have not managed games away from home well enough and that cost us points so I'd love it if that was the benchmark for every single away game between now and the end of the season in terms of the mentality and the approach.
"But we still want to be better in other areas."
Andy Bayes
Sports Editor, BBC Radio Lancashire
Image source, Getty ImagesLewis Gibson joined Preston from Plymouth on 6 January
Preston North End have addressed two areas that, from the outside, looked like they needed a refresh.
Paul Heckingbottom was able to make one addition in the last window following his appointment, but he's had time to assess what was needed over the last four months and left-sided players have come in.
Heckingbottom suggested to me this week that the squad he inherited are used to playing three at the back and largely, he's been happy to continue with that system, but now that Jayden Meghoma has arrived, it does look like they can comfortably play a back four with specialists on both sides.
Kaine Kesler-Hayden has switched from his favoured flank on the right to cover the left, largely because of a couple of injuries to Robbie Brady of late, but I think we can expect him to move back to his more natural position going forward.
Balance is key to any team and with Meghoma and Brady both fit and available to play, and Brad Potts not far off a return from injury, he'll have options to choose from on both sides without someone playing slightly out of their comfort zone.
Reflecting on the signings of Lewis Gibson on a permanent deal and the loan of Meghoma from Brentford, it's clear Heckingbottom would like to do more to mould the squad more to his liking but you sense that if there are more incomings, it could involve fringe players leaving to create the space.
Gibson's arrival leaves them with six senior centre-backs on the books. He's highly thought of and is here to play, you'd imagine he'll get a run of games to show what he's all about.
If they continue to play three centre-backs, it's direct competition in each spot, or is it too many to keep everyone happy? On a bench of nine, how many centre-backs do you realistically need?
A number of first-team players are out of contract in the summer. Some have been told that they won't be offered fresh terms for next year, but it doesn't necessarily mean that they'll leave this month in search of a new employer.
Andrew Hughes and Jordan Storey are the most recent two to extend their Deepdale stays, but we're waiting on key areas like the goalkeeping department, with Freddie Woodman's contract up in the summer.
Emil Riis is also out of contract and has been reportedly interesting clubs of late. Ryan Ledson, Liam Lindsay and Ched Evans – all Alex Neil signings - will also be free agents in the summer unless something is agreed.
There are others too, who have played their part in recent seasons, including Duane Holmes and, to a lesser extent, Patrick Bauer.
It's a key time for North End. We could see quite a turnover of personnel over the coming months, or deals may be struck to keep some of the players on who have served them over a number of years.
The feeling you get from talking to Paul Heckingbottom is that change might be a good thing.
Image source, Getty ImagesBrentford loanee Jayden Meghoma could make his debut for Preston North End in their away game against Luton Town at the weekend after joining the Lancashire club on Thursday.
The teenager has been brought into the squad to add to North End's attacking threat as well as providing relief for defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden, who has played all 90 minutes in 15 of his 24 Championship appearances this season.
"It gives us that opportunity now to have more competition, more cover and better balance to the team," boss Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"He's probably played more games at left-back in a back four. But, he's athletic, he likes to get forward. We want to push him and get him creating and scoring goals."
Preston are also boosted by midfielder Robbie Brady's return to fitness following a rib injury.
Matt Bloomfield's reign in charge of Luton gets underway with the visit of Preston North End to Kenilworth Road on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
Only five teams have won more than Town's six at home this season, while Paul Heckingbottom's men have won only one of their dozen games on the road.
Luton Town have failed to win any of their past three league games against Preston North End (D1 L2), with those matches witnessing just four goals scored in total.
After winning the reverse fixture 1-0 at Deepdale in August, Preston North End will be looking to complete a first league double over Luton Town since the 1999-2000 season.
Luton Town have lost each of their last four league games, last losing five in a row back in November 2019.
Preston North End have won just one of their last 17 Championship away games (D6 L10), beating Cardiff 2-0 in December.
Including caretakers/interims, none of the last six Luton Town managers have won the first game of a spell in charge (D5 L1), since Andy Awford's Hatters beat Exeter City 3-2 in December 2015.
Image source, Rex FeaturesFormer Preston North End goalkeeper Alan Kelly heaped praise on striker Milutin Osmajic after his double in the 2-1 win over Charlton in the FA Cup third round on Tuesday.
Osmajic's willingness to do the "ugly work" is what makes him so valuable to Preston, as they progressed to the fourth round and a tie against Wycombe Wanderers.
"He has done fantastic in the game for Preston. His running forward, I think Preston matched it by playing forward quicker and he got a brilliant second goal from a set-play," Kelly told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"His running and his work rate for the team, the way that he hustles defenders and makes it uncomfortable for them, it's a really good outlet, any team needs that.
"He gave everything, it's the off the ball running, the closing down, the ugly part of the job that he did so well.
"They always know with Osmajic that they've got an out-ball. That was born out by his first goal that he made for himself in my opinion. He doesn't give up, he puts the opposition under pressure, a mistake happens and he slots the first goal away – fantastic."
Image source, Rex FeaturesPreston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom felt his side were not at their best as they beat League One Charlton Athletic to reach the FA Cup fourth round.
Milutin Osmajic scored in either half to secure a 2-1 victory and set up a tie against Wycombe Wanderers but Heckingbottom believes North End made it a closer game against the Addicks than it needed to be.
"I'm delighted to get the job done, it was a tricky game," he told BBC Radio Lancashire. "We knew that Charlton would make it tricky with their style and how they play but I thought we contributed towards making it tricky as well.
"We were really sloppy with the ball, especially in the second half. We didn't play enough forward passes in behind them in the first half. We were brave and took the ball but didn't pose enough problems.
"The way we started the second half I thought we'd wrestle control of the game but it never really happened so we had to win the game in a different way and stood strong but we made it tough for ourselves."
Osmajic got the nod over Lilywhites top marksman Emil Riis with the Montenegro international making the most of his opportunity to net his eighth and ninth goals of the season.
"We always knew he would work hard, I always fancy him to get a goal," Heckingbottom added.
"I want him to improve in terms of his role out of possession because I think it can help the team and also help him save energy in certain moments to be more affective when we do have the ball.
"But I'm delighted for him. I believe he's a big threat when he's on the pitch."
Preston North End are in talks to sign defender Emir Karic from Austrian side Sturm Graz. (Football Insider, external)
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip here.
Image source, Getty ImagesThis is the first FA Cup meeting between Preston and Charlton since January 1966, with the Lilywhites winning a third round tie 3-2 at the Valley.
Since their last promotion to the Championship ahead of 2015-16, Preston have lost seven of their nine FA Cup third round ties, with the exceptions coming in 2017-18 (5-1 v Wycombe) and 2022-23 (3-1 v Huddersfield).
Preston have cooled their interest in Crystal Palace wide man Jeffrey Schlupp, who has fallen out of favour at Selhurst Park and has also been linked with Blackburn. (Lancashire Evening Post, external)
Want more EFL transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column.
Image source, Getty ImagesNew signing Lewis Gibson could make his debut for Preston North End in their third round FA cup tie against Charlton Athletic on Saturday.
The defender featured in 18 Championship games for Plymouth Argyle this season but made the move to North End earlier this month for a reported seven figure fee.
Midfielders Brad Potts and Robbie Brady are not fit to return though the weekend could see an appearance for experienced striker Ched Evans.
The former Wales international has been sidelined through injury since signing in June and has not yet featured for the first team.
However, the player-coach did score for the Under-21s on Tuesday against Blackburn Rovers, and manager Paul Heckingbottom has not ruled out a possible appearance against Charlton.
"He wants to focus on playing, he feels like he's in limbo," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire. "We will see how he does because you never know, he may be needed."
