Preston North End

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Preston North End's new striker Jusef Erabi won player of the year for Hammarby IF in his breakout season in top-flight Swedish football in 2023 at the age of just 20.

His performances earned him a permanent move to Belgian Pro League side Genk in 2025-26 and he arrives on loan at Deepdale with 48 goals to his name in 174 senior career appearances.

But what can Lilywhites fans expect from Erabi this season in terms of his playing style and what he can bring to the team?

The 23-year-old has been speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire and describes himself as a forward capable of producing a bit of "everything".

"First of all, I would say I'm a team player, which I think is a really important thing because if we have 11 players out there that just want to score themselves, it's going to be difficult," said Erabi, who is of Afghan descent but was born in Sweden.

"I'm a really hardworking striker that likes to help the team in the pressing, in the way we play.

"I like to score goals, of course, contribute points, and just overall for me the win is the most important thing. If I don't score but we win the game, that's the most important thing."

When asked about his specific strengths, he added: "I would say everything, but at the same time, the one thing I think I'm good at is that you can always improve.

"I think my hold-up play is good, the way I press, the intensity, the work ethic and obviously the finishing.

"I love finishing with the head and with my feet, both feet. So it's a little bit of everything, but of course I can improve in everything as well."

Listen to Jusef Erabi's full interview above or on BBC sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

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Preston North End have agreed a £2m deal for Dutch Middlesbrough forward Delano Burgzorg, 27.

Striker Kaly Sene is also poised to depart Boro for Swiss side Young Boys in a deal worth £1m for the Senegalese 25-year-old. (Northern Echo, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Image source, Getty Images

Preston North End have accepted a bid from Wrexham for skipper Ben Whiteman BBC Radio Lancashire reports, after the midfielder told boss Paul Heckingbottom he had "played his last game" for the club.

Whiteman joined Preston North End from Doncaster Rovers in 2021 and has since gone on to play 224 games for the Lilywhites.

However, it looks like the 30-year-old will be departing Deepdale on a sour note.

"Ben knew there was a line I didn't want him to cross and unfortunately he has," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire, external before the Welsh side made their bid.

"There's a valuation on him, I just hope for Ben's sake that Wrexham are willing to pay it otherwise he's put himself in a sticky situation.

"He's made his bed. I'm not bothered as long as I get another player."

Watch Heckingbottom's full thoughts on the saga below or listen on BBC Sounds here

Explore more Preston North End content on BBC Sounds

Preston North End are ready to put behind them the disappointment of missing out on the Championship play-offs last season, says captain Ben Whiteman.

The Lilywhites were fourth in the table at the start of January but won only four of their final 20 games to finish 14th, 13 points short of the top six.

"I understand the fans' frustration and we're just as frustrated. Once you put yourself in that position in January you want to keep pushing on," Whiteman told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Dan (Iversen - goalkeeper) was a massive loss when he got injured, but again not making excuses we weren't good enough over the piece. But it's gone, it's a new season now and we're looking to kick on.

"Since I've been at the football club the back end of the season has never been good enough, whether that's external or internal factors, it is disappointing but it's a fresh start and a season we're all looking forward to."

Preston made a statement of intent earlier this month when signing midfielder Alfie Devine from Tottenham for a club-record fee and Whiteman is pleased to have played a small part in encouraging him to make his loan move permanent.

"I kept in contact with Alfie over the summer as a bit of a sounding board for him," the 30-year-old added.

"You have a good season and there's a few clubs after you and you need that bit of guidance and that's what I tried to reiterate to him over the summer that coming back here he's loved by the players, fans and staff - once the finer details got sorted this was the only place he wanted to come to."

Preston start the new Championship season away at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, 15 August (12:30 BST).

Listen to more Preston North End interviews and content on BBC Sounds.

Bristol City, Stoke City, Sheffield United and Preston North End are battling for the signature of Ipswich Town right-back Harry Clarke, 25, with the Robins the most advanced in their pursuit of the Englishman. (Talksport), external

For more transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.

Preston are among a clutch of clubs keen on 22-year-old Oxford United winger Stanley Mills (Pete O'Rourke, external)

Want more news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.

Image source, Getty Images

England's progress to the World Cup semi-final has resulted in Preston North End postponing a pre-season friendly.

The Championship club were due to visit Chorley on Wednesday, 15 July, but the match has been called off as England will face Argentina on the same evening.

Preston will start their pre-season schedule away at Bamber Bridge on Tuesday, 14 July (19:00 BST), with the club having no friendlies scheduled for their Deepdale stadium while pitch improvement work is carried out.

The upgrade has also meant their Carabao Cup first-round tie at home to Huddersfield on 1 August has been moved to Everton Women's Goodison Park.

The Lilywhites will start the new Championship campaign away at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, 15 August (12:30 BST).

Preston North End have made an ambitious attempt to sign the versatile Northern Ireland international Justin Devenny from Crystal Palace, though the 22-year-old is also admired by Leicester City and Southampton. (Lancashire Post), external

Wolves have reportedly identified Aston Villa attacker Lewis Dobbin, 23, as a potential summer transfer target, with Middlesbrough and Southampton also linked with the English former Preston loanee. (Lancashire Post), external

For more transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.

Record signing Alfie Devine is a benchmark of what Preston North End's ambitions are, according to the club's former goalkeeper Alan Kelly.

The midfielder has signed a five-year contract after moving from Tottenham to Deepdale having been on loan last season, scoring eight goals in 45 Championship appearances.

The fee is undisclosed but the club have said it is "almost three times" what they paid for Portsmouth forward Callum Lang in February, which was reported to be around £2m.

"He's someone all Preston fans were looking to see back and for the club to pay a reported £6m, everyone will be delighted with that," said Kelly, who now works as a summariser for BBC Radio Lancashire.

"There were a lot of teams after him because of his quality, so to go out and get him, it sets a benchmark and what they're prepared to spend."

Preston were third in the Championship table in mid-December before going on to finish 14th and Kelly believes they and Devine will be targeting a big improvement next season.

"Alfie Devine is someone the team can be built around and I think he warrants that sort of money and could be worth even more moving forward so it's a win all round for the player, club and the fans," he said

"He'll have the drive of having been at a Premier League club like Spurs and will want to take Preston there - he'll have aspirations and dreams and signing for the club means he's been told they can come to fruition."

You can listen to more Preston North End interviews and features on BBC Sounds.

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Preston North End's Carabao Cup first round tie at home to Huddersfield Town has been moved to Goodison Park.

Deepdale is having a new hybrid pitch installed which the club say will be ready in time for their first home Championship game against Wolves on Saturday, 22 August.

The cup tie kicks off at 15:00 BST on Saturday, 8 August, the week before the new league season starts.

"To ensure no issues after a significant £1.5m-plus investment, the decision was made to ask permission to play away from PR1 in round one," Preston said in a statement., external

Goodison Park was the home of Everton up until the start of the 2025-26 season when they moved to their new Hill Dickinson Stadium with the Toffees' women's team taking up sole residency.

Mansfield Town are struggling to reach agreement with Preston North End striker Michael Smith over his proposed move to the League One club. (Alan Nixon - Patreon), external

You can find more of Monday's EFL transfer gossip here.

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:

• 15 August 2026 - Bolton Wanderers (A)

• 22 August 2026 - Wolves (H)

• 5 September 2026 - Blackburn Rovers (H)

• 5 December 2026 - Burnley (A)

• 26 December 2026 - Derby County (H)

• 1 January 2027 - Middlesbrough (A)

• 6 March 2027 - Bolton Wanderers (H)

• 16 March 2027 - Burnley (H)

• 10 April 2027 - Blackburn Rovers (A)

• 1 May 2027 - Cardiff City (H)

See Preston North End's full fixture list here.