Portsmouth favourite Callum Lang closing in on £1.75m Fratton Park exit as move to Preston North End gathers pace
Fratton Park favourite Callum Lang is edging closer to a move to Preston North End
Callum Lang is edging closer to a Pompey exit.
The News understands Championship rivals Preston North End are making progress in their efforts to sign the forward ahead of Monday’s 7pm transfer window deadline, that’s after initial discussions over a move dried up.
It’s understood a £1.75m fee plus add-ons has been settled upon.
Fratton favourite Lang has been at PO4 since his move from Wigan in January 2024. The 27-year-old scored four goals in 12 games as the Blues secured the League One title at the end of that season.
He then bagged 10 goals in 32 Championship appearances last term, a campaign that also saw him having to sit out the majority of the run-in with a hamstring injury.
Hamstring problems have continued to blight the popular member of the Fratton Park dressing room this season, with Lang sitting out Pompey’s past five games.
There was a real possbility of him returning to the first team and being involved in Saturday’s crucial game against West Brom, having trained with John Mousinho’s side this week.
However, that looks increasingly unlikely given developments in North End’s pursuit of the Liverpudlian.
Lang has featured just eight times for the Blues this term, scoring two goals. He last played for Pompey in their 1-1 draw with QPR on Boxing Day, which was only his sixth game back after three months out because of injury.
His current Fratton Park contract runs out at the end of the campaign. although the club have the option of an additional 12 months.
PNE boss Paul Heckingbottom - a long-term admirer of Lang’s - has been looking for extra firepower in January to bolster his side’s promotion chances.
On Thursday, the Lilywhites signed Serbia under-21 international Milos Lukovic from Strasbourg on loan for the rest of the season. Yet he remained keen to add something different to his current forward options - something that Lang provides.
Pompey have already added to their attacking department during the window with the loan arrival of Millenic Alli from Luton and the free transfer arrival of Keshi Anderson from Birmingham City.
It’s expected the Blues will try and reinforce that department again in the final three days of the transfer window, with a striker and a winger still on their wanted list.