"How much more money is there?" - Questions raised as Preston North End plot move for Barnsley star | OneFootball

The Lilywhites have made great strides in the league in recent weeks, and have identified the midfielder as someone to help them push up the table.

After a difficult start to the season, the last couple of months have been positive for Preston North End, and they have started to climb the table and away from the threat of relegation.

Paul Heckingbottom's side currently sit 15th in the Championship table, seven points above the drop zone, and just 10 points off the top six.

The league is still incredibly tight, and a good run of form could see the Lancashire club push towards the play-off places, however, the majority of focus will still be on the sides below them and if they can widen that gap to the bottom three.

Therefore, it is not a surprise to see that Preston are already active in the transfer window, and with Barnsley's Adam Phillips on their radar, it is clear that Heckingbottom is looking to improve his team further.

Verdict made on Preston's interest in Phillips

The 26-year-old, who turns 27 on Wednesday, is enjoying an excellent season in League One with the Tykes, and he has continued his goalscoring prowess at Oakwell.

Phillips has now fired in seven goals for Barnsley in the league, while also picking up four assists, helping his team to fifth in the table.

However, the midfielder will be conscious of the Championship side's interest, and a move to Deepdale could be on the cards.

Nevertheless, for Football League World's Preston Fan Pundit, Darren Watson, there are concerns about just how much the Lilywhites have to spend this month.

When asked by FLW if he believes a move for Phillips would be a good decision, he said: "I think this could be a good deal for Preston if they go for this midfielder. Obviously, with Paul Heckingbottom having ties to Barnsley, I feel that he can have his foot in the door there and speak to the player himself and speak to the club and try and entice him to Preston.

"But again, the problem is how much money have we actually got to spend in January? Preston have got a bit of a shoestring budget. We know that we're not the richest club in the EFL, so we've got to be careful with what we spend.

"We just bought a defender from Plymouth for £1m, so how much more money is there? Heckingbottom has got to build his squad, and that's something that the board and the club only know themselves."

"With Josh Bulger breaking into the scene now as well recently, is he going to be a starter and is this one of the players that Heckingbottom wants to bring in to start his own team and bring his own style within the North End team that he's currently got?

"Obviously, we've just got to wait and see what happens. But it’s been an exciting window so far for Preston. Let's see if we can start building and start pushing for the top six at the end of the season."

Phillips has more than enough quality to make a difference at Preston

Phillips has played a key role in the success that Barnsley has had this season, and without his contributions, they might not be in a play-off place.

He was crucial in the Tykes' 2-1 win over Wrexham on New Year's Day, scoring once and picking up an assist to put a dent in the Red Dragons' automatic promotion ambitions.

His ability to strike a ball so cleanly and be a threat in front of goal will be a strong reason behind Heckingbottom's interest, and the soon-to-be 27-year-old has enough quality to bring that to the Championship.

Preston need to turn more of their draws into wins in the second half of the campaign, and finding the back of the net consistently will be key to any push up the table that they plan to have, and Phillips will bring this for them from midfield.