Preston North End are again being linked with a summer move to sign Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Marc Leonard.
The summer transfer window is still a few months away but speculation is already emerging.
We haven’t seen tons of names linked with PNE just yet but we can now talk about rumours surrounding Marc Leonard.
Fabrizio Romano now reports that North End are looking to sign Brighton talent Leonard this summer.
There is competition for Leonard’s signature though as Plymouth Argyle and Swansea City are both interested too, according to Romano.
This isn’t the first time Leonard has been linked with a move to Deepdale.
Reports in January 2023 suggested that North End were keen to land Leonard on a permanent basis having impressed on loan at Northampton Town.
PNE may well have kept close tabs on Leonard ahead of a potential summer move and could finally bring the Scot to Lancashire.
Who is PNE target Marc Leonard?
Leonard hails from Glasgow and started in the Rangers youth ranks before heading to Heart of Midlothian as a teenager.
The midfielder showed promise at Hearts, tempting Brighton into a 2018 deal before Leonard had made a first-team appearance.
Leonard has only managed two senior appearances for Brighton but has been a regular for Scotland at youth level.
Now 22, Leonard has racked up two seasons of EFL action having spent the last two years on loan at Northampton.
After shining in League Two, Leonard has kicked on again and bagged five goals and six assists in League One.
Leonard has received huge praise for his ability to control the midfield and his deliveries into the box – both from set pieces and open play – have been impressive.
Leonard is the kind of talent we would like to see PNE sign; a Premier League talent who has impressed out on loan and is now at an age where he surely wants to settle down and kick on.
Ben Pearson and Daniel Johnson fit a similar kind of mould many years ago and interest in Leonard certainly makes sense – but may lead to fears about Alan Browne.
The PNE captain is out of contract this summer and news of a new deal has been thin on the ground.
Leonard could be seen as a replacement for Browne, or a move could pave the way for Ryan Ledson to move on and play more football elsewhere.
Leonard is a name to keep close tabs on in the coming months though with the Scot potentially viewed as a key summer target.
The post Fabrizio Romano claims Preston North End want to sign Brighton and Hove Albion talent this summer appeared first on Deepdale Digest.