"Not anywhere near" - Preston North End budget claims emerge as Sheffield United close in on transfer | OneFootball

FLW's Preston North End fan pundit discusses whether the club should've pushed harder to sign Burrows, or whether he was always out of their reach.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Preston North End look set to miss out on Peterborough United wing-back Harrison Burrows, with the defender reportedly set to sign for Championship rivals Sheffield United in a £3m deal.

The Peterborough Telegraph understands that the initial fee that Sheffield United will pay for Burrows is around £3m, with the Posh defender reported to have undergone his medical with the Blades on Wednesday, July 24.

That would appear to signal the end of any Preston North End hopes of coming back in for an improved offer for the League One standout from last season, after the Lilywhites reportedly had a bid rejected in early July.

But should PNE have pushed harder to make a deal happen for the left wing-back, who scored six goals and registered 15 assists in the third tier last term? Football League World investigates.

Preston couldn't afford Burrows deal

FLW's Preston North End fan pundit, Darren Watson, believes that although the Lilywhites evidently had Burrows on their list of transfer targets this summer, the club just couldn't realistically compete with Sheffield United and the fee Posh demanded for him.

"But with Preston's budget, I think that Peterborough obviously had a price in mind, and that price that we offered was not anywhere near what Peterborough were willing to release him for.

"I can see the player doing well anywhere he goes, because he is a really good player, but that £3m price tag - if he does go to Sheffield United - is something way out of our budget.

"I can't see us competing with Sheffield United in that region of £3m, although he is a good player and he will probably do really well at Sheffield United, I don't think that we can actually afford that kind of money for a player at this present moment."

Burrows is type of signing PNE should be making to take next step

Preston North End are a club that have found themselves in somewhat of a place of limbo in the Championship, after multiple seasons of mid-table finishes.

For a club that has yet to ply its trade in the Premier League, relative security in the Championship is perhaps something that isn't to be taken for granted.

But at the same time, fans of all football clubs want to see their club progressing, both on and off the pitch, and signing a player such as Harrison Burrows would provide those dedicated PNE supporters with evidence of clear ambition.

So, whilst Robbie Brady does provide a solid veteran option at the left wing-back spot in Lowe's side, he will be 33 come the end of next season. Not only that, he is also scheduled to become a free agent as he enters the final year of his contract.

There was also a downturn in the Irish international's production in 2023/24, as his one goal and two assists in 32 Championship appearances followed a 2022/23 season that saw the experienced defender score zero goals, but he provided six assists in 34 league matches.

With Brady's best days perhaps past him, and only 18-year-old Kian Best behind him in the depth chart at left wing-back, that area of Lowe's squad has the potential of becoming a real problem position in the near future.

Therefore, with the loan signing of Sam Greenwood and the free agent addition of Stefan Thordarson being Preston's only additions in the transfer market so far, whilst having lost club captain Alan Browne to Sunderland, it's hard to make a case for the playing squad having been improved so far.

North End need to be careful not to get lulled into a false sense of Championship security, as whilst their rivals around them strengthen, the Lilywhites don't appear to be making obvious strides of improvement.