Preston North End re-enter transfer battle for Nottingham Forest man - Wrexham, Swansea & Valencia also keen | OneFootball

Preston North End have joined to the race for Lewis O'Brien's signature this summer amid interest from Wrexham, Swansea and Valencia

Preston North End have joined the race for Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien.

According to Alan Nixon via patreon, PNE have added their name to the list of clubs interested in the 26-year-old, alongside Valencia and Wrexham.

O'Brien impressed on loan at Swansea last season, and now has to pick from a number of potential suitors.

Preston North End eyeing up Lewis O’Brien loan move

It isn’t the first time Paul Heckingbottom has expressed his desire for O’Brien, with the Lilywhites keen on acquiring the midfielder in January.

Ultimately, a depleted backline forced North End to use their resources on a loan deal for Ryan Porteous, which saw O’Brien move to Swansea instead for the remainder of the campaign.

However, with PNE preparing for a busy window, O’Brien has once again been targeted as a potential signing, even after the arrival of Jordan Thompson from Stoke City.

Nixon states that the move would be temporary, in the form of a loan deal, which would help the Lilywhites regarding their limited finances.

As previously stated, Heckingbottom would have to convince the midfielder to decline offers from Valencia and Wrexham in favour of a Deepdale move, with Swansea City also wanting to re-sign the left-footed playmaker.

Lewis O’Brien would raise the bar at Preston North End if he were to arrive at Deepdale

Recruitment is key for North End this summer, after a raft of players exited the club at the end of last season.

Replacing those such as Emil Riis, Ryan Ledson and Freddie Woodman will be crucial, but Heckingbottom and the hierarchy must make sure they’re also adding quality to a squad that almost suffered relegation to League One.

O’Brien would certainly do that, having proved his Championship credentials in the past with Huddersfield and more recently during his time on loan at Swansea.

If PNE can do a deal for the midfielder, it would signal their intent to the rest of the division and could potentially spark a push further up the Championship.

North End’s biggest worry will be fending off the likes of Wrexham and Valencia, who will be able to offer a more competitive package financially and more exciting projects on the surface.

Therefore, the Lilywhites may have to promise something the other two can’t, such as higher priority in the squad.

Time will tell whether PNE can seriously mount a challenge for O’Brien’s signature, but if they can, it would certainly go a long way to pleasing the North End faithful, who are desperate to avoid a repeat of last season’s climax.