Exclusive: Portsmouth reject £2m Preston North End bid for 10-goal star | OneFootball

Portsmouth have rejected a £2m approach from Preston North End for Callum Lang, FLW understands.

Portsmouth have rejected a £2m bid from Preston North End for attacking midfielder Callum Lang, Football League World has been exclusively informed.

Pompey enjoyed a strong first season back at Championship level since 2012 last term, with John Mousinho's side finishing 16th.

Preston, on the other hand, danced as closely with relegation as they have done since their promotion to the second tier in 2015, finishing 20th and just a single point above the drop zone.

As such, both clubs will be looking to enjoy a strong summer transfer window in order to firmly pull themselves away from the bottom three in 2025/26, with both sides already making numerous additions to their respective playing squads.

Portsmouth reject £2m Preston North End approach for Callum Lang

Preston have been busy this summer, having already signed no less than six new players to bolster Paul Heckingbottom's squad.

The Lilywhites appear to have identified the player they hope will join that list of incomings at Deepdale, but they may have to work hard for his signature.

That's because Football League World has exclusively been informed that Portsmouth have rejected a £2m bid from North End for Callum Lang.

The 26-year-old enjoyed one of the best individual campaigns of his career so far at Fratton Park last season, bagging 10 goals and two assists in 32 Championship appearances.

A versatile forward player who can operate as an attacking midfielder, on the wing or as a centre-forward, Lang signed for Pompey in January 2024 from Wigan Athletic, and has become a key player for the club ever since.

He penned a two-and-a-half-year deal with the club at the time, which also included the option of an additional 12 months, meaning he's contracted at Fratton Park until next summer at least.

Callum Lang would be a massive boost to Preston North End's attacking options

One of the main reasons why Preston North End found themselves narrowly avoiding relegation to League One last season was their lack of cutting edge in attack.

Indeed, North End's 48 league goals scored in 24/25 was three fewer than 23rd-placed Plymouth Argyle, and was equal to bottom club Cardiff's 48 scored respectively.

Their defence, on the other hand, held up pretty well, conceding just 59 goals which was only one more than Coventry City shipped, and was less than the likes of Sheffield Wednesday (69), Norwich (68) and Watford (61) respectively.

Having seen Emil Riis depart for Bristol City, Preston have lost one of their more dangerous attacking weapons this summer, and the additions of Daniel Jebbison and Thierry Small respectively are both unproven at Championship level.

Therefore, signing a player in Lang who has just hit double-figure goals in the second tier last season would surely be a very smart signing indeed, and one that could be justified to push the boat out for with a higher bid.

Portsmouth have also signed attacking midfielder John Swift this summer, which could be an indication that they do indeed fear losing the services of Lang before the window is done.