Preston North End have rejected a transfer request from striker Jordan Hugill.
It was reported on Tuesday morning by Football Insider that the player had requested a move this summer in the face of interest from Championship clubs Leeds, Reading, Birmingham and Sunderland.
However, Preston North End had always maintained that they wanted to hold onto the player.
That was confirmed in an official capacity on Tuesday lunchtime when the club formally rejected his transfer request.
The news was announced on the Sky Sports Transfer Centre blog (1.02pm).
Preston North End released a statement that read: “Preston North End can confirm that Jordan Hugill has today handed in a written transfer request.
“The club have rejected this request and will not be selling him in this transfer window.“
Good move for Leeds?
This isn’t the end of the world for Leeds. There are better striker targets out there than Hugill.
The only thing working in Hugill’s favour is that he’s proven in the Championship and signing someone from overseas would be a gamble.
It would have been an okay signing, but now Leeds can rule him out of their thinking and concentrate on bigger and better targets. And that has to be a good thing.
This Is Futbol rating: 8/10.
Likely to happen?
This seems to end any hope for Leeds fans that they might be signing Hugill this summer.
With just two days until the transfer window ends, it’s an emphatic statement from the Championship club and doesn’t appear to offer any wriggle room for Hugill.
Leeds have other striker targets and have said they won’t panic buy and will only do deals if it’s right for the club.
This one seems to be dead in the water
This Is Futbol rating: 1/10.