Preston North End could face former loanee Stephy Mavididi next season as he nears a move to Championship rivals Leicester City.
Loan signings – a mixed bag at the best of times for PNE.
We’re all frantically checking our phones for any kind of news on Tom Cannon’s potential loan return from Everton.
Cannon is a great example of the loan market working out, having excelled in the second half of last season.
Others haven’t quite enjoyed the same success with Liam Delap, Andre Green and Jayson Molumby struggling at times.
Then there is Stephy Mavididi, who joined PNE on loan from Arsenal back in the summer of 2017.
Mavididi was Alex Neil’s second signing as North End looked to add more speed and dynamism in the final third.
Mavididi had just impressed with Charlton Athletic and PNE fans were excited to see him in action.
Things just didn’t work out at Deepdale though and after just 334 minutes of league action, Mavididi was sent back to Arsenal.
Now 24, Mavididi has been on an incredible journey having joined Juventus B, impressed on loan at Dijon and then joined Montpellier.
21 goals in the last three Ligue 1 seasons has shown Mavididi’s quality and he is now set for a return to English football.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Leicester City are on the verge of signing Mavididi.
Romano claims that negotiations between Leicester and Montpellier are ‘very advanced’ whilst personal terms are set to be agreed.
French reporter Hugo Guillemet adds that the fee is likely to be just shy of €6million, so just about £5million.
Everything seems to be pointing towards Mavididi heading to the King Power Stadium and being part of Leicester’s expected promotion push.
Harvey Barnes has just joined Newcastle United so Mavididi may well be his replacement down the left flank.
That means Mavididi will be in line to play against PNE, first when North End travel to Leicester in October and then for the return game at Deepdale in April.
