‘Not a ceiling raiser’: Scathing verdict over Callum Lang’s Preston North End move after Portsmouth exit

Callum Lang’s move to Preston North End is ‘not a ceiling raiser’

That’s the damning verdict of Ali Maxwell from the respected Not The Top 20 podcast, who believes the 27-year-old would only be a squad option for the Lilywhites.

The forward completed a switch to Deepdale in the final knockings of the transfer window, with North End paying a club-record fee for his services.

It brought an abrupt end to Lang’s two-year stay at Fratton Park, having scored 16 goals in 53 appearances, while also winning the League One title and escaping Championship relegation.

However, injuries had severely hampered his time on the south coast, with three separate hamstring issues limiting him to just 11 outings since his first set-back in February 2025.

His last showing for the Blues came in a 1-1 draw against QPR on Boxing Day before picking up a fresh hamstring blow, which ruled him out of the final seven games of his Fratton Park career.

And Maxwell is adamant his switch doesn’t represent good value for money for the Lilywhites, who have paid a club-record fee for his services.

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Scathing verdict over Callum Lang’s Pompey exit

Speaking on Not The Top 20’s deadline day special, he said: Guess what? I don’t love it, I genuinely don’t love it.

‘I don’t think Lang is like a, he’s certainly not a ceiling raiser for Preston. If he is fit all of the time, he’s a nice squad option for Preston.

‘At the reported fee, which admittedly I only saw last week but was at least £1.75m, I don’t love it for Preston in terms of value for money.

‘They currently play a system that doesn’t have an obvious spot for Callum Lang, who I think has done his best work can we all agree off the right wing.

‘He’s not an inverted left-winger goal threat and he’s not a nine. He could be a 10 if it was purely pressing and poaching. Maybe that’s where PNE want to put him in.

‘He’s certainly not their starting striker and he has very consistently been unavailable for selection due to injury.

‘If Portsmouth hadn’t won on the weekend (against West Brom) and been in slightly better nick than they were 10 days ago, I wonder if they might not have sanctioned this because I don’t think they fans would be happy. And I dare say they’ll be some that won’t be.

‘Sometimes you’ve just got to grit your teeth and push it through (by handing in a transfer request.’

Lang’s first game for Preston could come this Saturday against his former club, with John Mousinho’s men making the long trip to Lancashire bidding to continue their impressive run of form.

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