Fresh Preston North End pathway opens for Portsmouth forward Callum Lang ahead of transfer window’s climax
It’s expected to be a frenetic climax to the transfer window for Pompey.
A fresh pathway looks set to open for Preston North End to seal a deadline day deal for Callum Lang.
The in-demand winger has been on the Lilywhites’ radar for successive transfer windows after a reported failed attempt in the summer.
North End reignited their interest in the 27-year-old earlier this month, with reports initially emerging that a £1.5m bid was rejected by the Blues.
John Mousinho revealed on Saturday that talks were ‘rumbling’ on in the background between the two clubs, with a deal yet to be finalised as the 7pm deadline approaches.
However, Preston themselves are believed to be closing in on an exit in the forward department as the window reaches its climax.
Preston close in on £1.5m exit amid Callum Lang pursuit
Reports in Denmark have claimed Superliga outfit Brondby IF have agreed a £1.5m move for attacking midfielder Mads Frokjaer.
The 26-year-old has spent two-and-a-half years at Deepdale, netting eight goals and has provided 14 assists in 107 appearances in all competitions.
The Danish top-flight side are managed by former Nottingham Forest and Leicester City boss Steve Cooper, who revealed talks were ongoing over a potential deadline-day switch.
He said: ‘I won't deny that there is dialogue about it because then I would be lying, but the moment there is nothing concrete that I am aware of.’
Of course, that would free-up a space in Paul Heckingbottom’s forward line, with a pursuit of Lang still on the cards in the final knockings of the window.
The former Wigan man, who made the move to Fratton Park in January 2024, was left out of Saturday’s 20-man squad to face West Brom.
Pompey boss on Callum Lang’s West Brom absence
And despite a return to training at the end of last month, Mousinho stressed Lang was purely left out on football merit instead of the ongoing transfer talks.
The head coach told The News on Saturday: ‘There’s no movement on Callum, it was a football decision in terms of protecting him.
‘I’ll catch up with Rich (Hughes) and the board, but there’s nothing in terms of a bid accepted from our side.
‘There’s things rumbling on in the background, but the decision not to have Callum involved today was purely on football merit. He’s trained all week so no problems there, we’ll see how that pans out.
‘He was in yesterday so that hasn’t happened (he’d said his goodbyes to his team-mates). I do like these rumours, there’s quite a few from the training ground - but there’s nothing in that.
‘Yes (he’s still at the club), he would've been doing his bits (at the training ground). When it comes to matchday, the players not in the squad will be professional and do their bits in and around the training ground.
‘Callum is very much committed to the football club - and very much still our player. We’ll see how that pans out over the next couple of days. If he’s still here Tuesday then great.
‘I felt the injury risk was too great. If he’s on the bench today I wouldn’t have used him, I didn’t want him to come back too early and tear his hamstring. That’s happened a couple of times in the past.
‘I don’t know (if Lang will go) I keep myself away from that (transfer discussions) as matchday nears.’