Preston North End eye Aston Villa transfer raid | OneFootball

Preston North End are looking at Aston Villa goalkeeper Filip Marschall as they continue their quick start to the transfer window

Preston North End are eyeing up a move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Filip Marschall, as they continue their busy start to the transfer window.

According to the Lancashire Post, North End are interested in acquiring the 22-year-old’s services this summer, as they look to deal with Freddie Woodman’s departure.

FLW exclusively revealed that the Lilywhites had agreed a deal in principle to re-sign Leicester City goalkeeper Daniel Iversen in the upcoming window, and it now looks like Paul Heckingbottom is opting for a complete reset in between the sticks at Deepdale.

Preston North End eye Filip Marschall

Looking to fill their goalkeeping ranks with an exciting prospect, North End are reportedly aiming to bring in one of the EFL's most promising young talents between the sticks.

Marschall returns to Villa Park after his fourth loan away from the Premier League outfit. He spent last season at the Mornflake stadium with Crewe Alexandra, making 51 appearances as the side finished 13th in League Two.

Impressively, the 22-year-old kept 16 clean sheets, which has reportedly caught the eye of potential suitors, including PNE.

Marschall enjoyed a loan spell at MK Dons the season prior - which followed two stints at Gateshead, where he won the National League North title.

The shot-stopper recently extended his contract with Villa, but according to the Lancashire Post, could be set for a move to Lancashire in the not-too-distant future.

Marschall was part of the Villa side that won the 2021 FA Youth Cup, running out 2-1 victors over Liverpool. He also has European experience despite his modest age – featuring in the Europa Conference League away at Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar.

It's clear to see why Heckingbottom is so keen to improve his goalkeeping options, as after Woodman’s injury in late March, back-up ‘keeper Dai Cornell failed to match his senior’s quality, unable to keep a single clean sheet in 10 appearances.

By no means a bad goalkeeper, the 34-year-old wasn’t of the required standard, and ultimately played a part in North End’s late-season slump, which resulted in a final-day dance with relegation.

North End are wasting no time this window

In what will be a positive sign for the Deepdale faithful, everyone involved with Preston North End clearly aren’t impressed with how last season ended, and are determined to make sure that doesn't happen again next term.

The Lilywhites sleepwalked into a relegation battle at the end of the last Championship campaign, after looking clear of trouble for the majority of the year.

However, following a series of late defeats and losses to multiple clubs at the bottom of the division, Heckingbottom and Co. arrived at Ashton Gate on the final day of the season facing the sickening prospect of relegation.

Fate turned out to shine handsomely on PNE that day, with goals from Emil Riis and Milutin Osmajic retaining the club’s Championship status.

Following their flirtation with the third-tier, the club have already been busy to ensure they don’t face similar challenges next season.

The Lilywhites have already announced the signing of Jordan Thompson, who was released by Stoke City this summer, and are believed to have a deal for Iversen in the pipeline.

If North End can add the reported acquisition of Marschall too, then it will have been an incredibly productive few weeks for the club, and a start to the transfer window they desperately needed to have.