Ilay Camara in: 2 deals Preston North End can be expected to make before the EFL kick-off on August 9 | OneFootball

At FLW we have taken a look at two key deals that Preston North End need to strike before they kick their campaign off on August 9th.

Preston North End will be targeting an improvement on their 10th-placed finish in the Championship from 2023-24 when the new season gets underway.

A key part of this is securing a strong transfer window, with incomings and outgoings both crucial aspects of ensuring they aren't left behind by their Championship rivals.

So far, we have seen the Lancashire outfit sign Stefán Teitur Thórdarson from Silkeborg IF and Sam Greenwood from Leeds United. Meanwhile, outgoings have been infrequent, with the only noticeable one so far being Alan Browne rejecting a contract at Deepdale in order to sign for Regis Le Bris' Sunderland.

This means that deals both ways are still likely and PNE will be aiming to sort these before their season begins against Sheffield United on August 9 at Deepdale.

FLW takes a look therefore at two deals that will likely be completed for North End by the time their fixture against the Blades arrives.

Ilay Camara

A player who would be a superb addition before August the 9th is Ilay Camara. The 21-year-old is a right-wing back who plays for Belgian side RWD Molenbeek, and was linked with North End last month, as per the Lancashire Evening Post.

Signed from Anderlecht last summer, the youngster played 31 games for RWDM in the top flight of Belgian football, where he managed an impressive three goals and seven assists across the campaign.

This sort of return would prove useful for Lowe, who will be looking for a much better attacking outlet from his right-sided wing-back, with Brad Potts managing just three goal contributions last term - he is also versatile and is capable of playing on the left too.

It would likely not be a cheap deal, but based on his exploits at a competitive level, Camara could provide value for money and a potential asset for the future too.

However, they are not alone in their attempts to sign Camara, with Coventry City and Burnley both keen, as well as French side Stade de Reims - Standard Liege also want to sign the wing-back, but currently, Molenbeek are blocking the move.

Time will tell then, as to whether they can secure his signature, but Lowe will surely be keen to have Camara in his starting line-up against Sheffield United next month, especially with other transfer target Harrison Burrows looking likely to head to the Blades.

Patrick Bauer

A deal that PNE will surely aim to conclude before August 9, is the departure of Patrick Bauer to another club.

Having signed from Charlton Athletic back in the summer of 2019, Bauer was initially something of a key player for the Lilywhites.

However, injury issues - including a ruptured achilles suffered in 2020 - and lack of favouritism have seen the German drop down Lowe's defensive pecking order, with the 31-year-old making just 10 appearances over the last two campaigns.

All this has led to Lowe recently stating that he has no plans for the defender going forward, meaning he is free to search for a move somewhere else.

With a year left on his contract and injury issues apparent, they will surely receive a minimal fee for the defender. But, the club will understand that the sooner they can get rid of him, the more wages will be freed up to sign new players.

For this reason, they should be targeting a departure for Bauer before August 9, to give them sufficient time to search for new targets.

Having struggled for game time, the former Charlton Athletic man will surely be keen on a move away as he looks to discover some of the form that earned him the move to Deepdale, although he is likely to be settled in the north west of England with his young family, having been in the area for over five years now, which could make finding the right club a bit more difficult.