Preston North End eyeing 12-goal ace ahead of summer | OneFootball

Preston North End are looking at a potential summer move for Will Evans.

Preston North End are eyeing a potential summer move for Mansfield Town striker Will Evans.

This is according to Mirror reporter, Dan Marsh, who has detailed the Deepdale interest in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

PNE currently sit 16th in the Championship table, and with safety all but secured, they can begin preparations for their 11th consecutive season in the second tier.

Paul Heckingbottom has successfully steadied the ship following a difficult start to the campaign. He will be hoping for better fortunes next season, with a new striker potentially providing the cutting edge needed to push for a play-off spot.

Evans' record has been highly impressive over the past couple of seasons, and while his form has dipped in recent months, a step-up to the next division would not be unjustified.

Will Evans attracting Preston interest

As mentioned in the previous post, Marsh is aware that Preston are keen on Evans and would consider making a move for him this summer.

However, they don't appear to be alone in their interest, with other unnamed clubs reportedly also eyeing the 27-year-old.

Evans began his career at Cardiff Met University before working his way through Bala Town and earning an opportunity at League Two side Newport County. His first season with the Exiles was underwhelming, but he bounced back in the 2023-24 campaign with an impressive 21-goal season.

This form caught the attention of Mansfield, who signed the striker in the summer for an undisclosed fee. Since then, he has netted 12 in his debut campaign in the third tier - a decent figure considering the Stags' struggles in the second half of the season.

Will Evans could transfer his form to the Championship

The question on the minds of Preston North End supporters will be whether a 12-goal-a-season striker in League One can make the step up to the Championship.

His career is certainly on an upward trajectory, and his ability to take chances is one of his standout qualities. If Preston can create opportunities for him, he is likely to deliver, with the 27-year-old having consistently outperformed his expected goals (xG) in the past two seasons.

Evans' current deal at Mansfield runs until 2026, meaning any move would require a fee for North End to secure his services.

Preston’s current attacking options include Milutin Osmajic, Will Keane, and Emil Riis, but with the latter’s contract expiring this summer, a new addition to bolster their frontline may be necessary.

Evans has proven himself in both League Two and League One, so a move to the second tier seems a natural progression for the Welshman.