Preston North End

Image source, Getty Images

Today is the final chance of the season for your Championship team to do transfer business.

The window closes at 19:00 GMT, meaning teams - and fans - can avoid the usual late-night transfer scramble.

It has already been a busy window - for some teams anyway - but whether it turns out to be a day of transfer action or a pretty quiet one for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our live text coverage throughout the day here

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom speaks to BBC Radio Lancashire after their 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town.

"The result is a shame but the performance was good and strong. Sometimes it goes against you. For the majority of the game I felt we were comfortable regardless of the players they've got and how well coached they are," he said.

"I felt that we controlled when they had the ball and after the first five minutes we did carry our threat and I felt that threat grew in the game.

"That's the way it goes. You know you're going to have big spells to defend, especially as the game wears on and Kieran is throwing more attacking players on.

"It's frustrating and a shame. I don't think anyone could begrudge us if we'd got the three points there because it was really well done and a big performance but we didn't manage to do it."

Preston left-back Andrija Vukcevic wants to help turn North End's fortunes around after his return to action.

A recurring hamstring injury has seen the 29-year-old Serbia defender limited to just four substitute appearances since October, the latest in Saturday's 4-0 defeat at Middlesbrough which followed a seven-game lay-off.

Three wins in 11 Championship games since the start of December has seen the Lilywhites slip to ninth, having spent the majority of the season in the play-off places.

He told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I am finally back, I am feeling good, I have been working hard to come back as quick as I can. I am just happy to be able to perform again.

"It's been a bad run of games but we have already shown this season what we are capable of doing so I think we will bounce back quick.

"We are focused on improving. We have an opportunity to turn around on Saturday (at Ipswich, 15:00 GMT).

"The atmosphere in the dressing room is still positive, everyone is focused on improving, that's the most important thing.

"It's just a bad run and everyone will try to turn this around."

The 22-cap Montenegro star revealed he has been supporting his compatriot Milutin Osmajic following his latest disciplinary indiscretion - a red card for headbutting Hull's John Lundstram on 20 January.

"We have been talking a lot," Vukcevic said. "I feel sorry for him. He's been playing really well and this kind of thing happens and sets you back a bit, because he needs to be here to help the team, score goals and focus on football.

"He has to learn how to handle those situations, to be smarter in such a situation. He knows he made mistakes and I hope it won't happen again."

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom says he shares the frustration of the fans about limited incomings so far in the January transfer window - but hopes they can strengthen before the deadline passes.

The Lilywhites have made one signing, bringing striker Milos Lukovic in on loan, but their squad has been depleted in recent weeks by departures, injuries and suspensions.

North End are without eight players they had available at the start of the month.

Daniel Iversen, Andrew Hughes and Brad Potts are injured, while Milutin Osmajic is serving a three-game suspension and Jordan Storey will miss the trip to Ipswich after his red card at Middlesbrough.

Stefan Thordarson was sold to Hannover 96, Will Keane went on loan to Reading and Harrison Armstrong returned to parent club Everton, though Heckingbottom hopes the 19-year-old will return for the remainder of the season.

"We'll wait and hopefully get him back," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"He's not our player and it's totally down to Everton. I spoke with David [Moyes] again this morning, so I know the lay of the land, exactly where we sit and he knows our thoughts on it."

Heckingbottom said supporters are "as worried as I am" that their January business is still yet to be concluded.

"I'd rather have it [incomings] on 1 January, that's the aim and then you can be working with it," he said.

"I'm looking at the players we've lost in a time when we can do something about it. So my frustrations are always that. That will always be the same, but it's not an easy window to work in, to operate in."

Preston have suffered three straight league defeats and picked up just four wins from their past 15 Championship games (D6 L5) which has seen them slip from fourth to ninth, one point off the play-off places.

"Hopefully we welcome Andy [Hughes] back now, he's back in training, so that's one back," Heckingbottom added.

"If we can bring a couple of signings in, brilliant. If we can get Harrison back, then we'll be back to where we wanted to be."

Ipswich Town and Preston North End are both hoping to return to winning ways when they meet at Portman Road.

The Suffolk side's 3-1 defeat by Sheffield United last weekend means they are now five points outside the automatic promotion places - albeit with a game in hand on the top two - while Preston have slipped to ninth after a three-match losing streak.

• Ipswich have lost their past two Championship games against Preston (3-2 in February 2024 and 1-0 in August 2025), only once previously losing three in a row against them in the second tier: a run of four between August 2005 and March 2007.

• Preston will be aiming to complete a league double over Ipswich for the first time since 2008-09, when they beat them home (3-2) and away (2-1) under Alan Irvine.

• Ipswich were beaten by Sheffield United last time out (3-1 at Bramall Lane), but have only lost consecutive Championship matches under Kieran McKenna once previously (2-1 v Middlesbrough and 3-0 v Charlton in October 2025).

• Preston have lost their past three Championship games without scoring a single goal, last having a longer streak in a single campaign in April-May 2024 (five losses, zero goals).

• Ipswich's Marcelino Nunez has assisted seven goals in the Championship this season – since 2018-19, only one midfielder has registered more in a single second-tier campaign for the club (eight by Conor Chaplin in 2023-24).

Preston North End are set to sign Serbian striker Milos Lukovic on loan from Ligue 1 side Strasbourg after the 20-year-old spent the first half of the season on loan at Spanish Segunda Division club Las Palmas. (L'Equipe - in French), external

For more transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.

Image source, Getty Images

Preston chairman Ian Penrose has confirmed the club are in talks with potential investors.

Penrose took over as chairman in October after owner Craig Hemmings stepped down.

Sky News reported on Saturday, external that US-born Saudi businessman Amr Zedan had held discussions about investing in the Championship club.

The club said since this story was published, the club's owners and board had been subjected to abuse on social media.

"We have commenced discussions with a number of parties from around the world who have expressed an interest in acquiring Preston North End," Penrose told the club website, external.

"This process is in its early stages and is ongoing as we continue to receive new approaches.

"I can confirm that we have had discussions with Mr Zedan, who we respect highly.

"Mr Zedan is one of a number of successful individuals or organisations that have made enquiries about the club. Specific comments on any approach are inappropriate at this stage."

The Lilywhites lost 4-0 at second-placed Middlesbrough on Saturday to drop down to ninth place.

They have not played in the top flight of English football since 1961.

Penrose added: "While such a transaction can take months to conclude and there is no certainty that a successful outcome will be achieved, it is the board's intention to conclude these negotiations at the earliest opportunity.

"It is of utmost importance that any future owner of Preston North End is the right fit for the football club in order to maximise the club's potential and the ambitions of our fans, stakeholders and owners."

Image source, Shutterstock

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom says he cannot accept how his side were rolled over in their heavy defeat at Middlesbrough.

North End lost a third successive Championship game to fall out of the play-off spots, all without scoring as they succumbed at the Riverside.

They were three down by half-time and then had defender Jordan Storey sent off to make matters worse on a miserable afternoon for all concerned.

"The goals were all mistakes, all errors, so you're never going to win games if you give goals away like that," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We've gifted the game to Boro but they're a good side - it would have been hard enough anyway not doing that.

"But I can't accept that we come to a place like this and just because they're a good side, we roll over.

"We've shown in spells this season that we can play to those levels. Our challenge is putting a group together that can do it for 46 games."

Image source, EFL

A new initiative highlighting the work of football club charities has been launched by the English Football League (EFL).

'Scan to Smile' will be rolled out in stadiums across the EFL from Friday until the end of January, with supporters invited to scan QR codes on posters displayed around grounds.

Each scan will unlock a short, uplifting story from a person whose life has been positively impacted by the support of their local club charity.

The subjects tackled include mental health support, combating loneliness, improving physical wellbeing, employability and confidence.

The EFL said it hoped the initiative would use "the reach and influence of football to offer fans a moment of positivity on matchday".

Trevor Birch, chief executive at the EFL, said: "Behind every club are people whose lives have been positively changed through the work and dedication of their local EFL club charity.

"This initiative gives supporters the chance to see that impact first-hand and reminds us that football truly is a force for good."

Middlesbrough have the chance to cut Coventry's lead to three points with a win over Preston on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

Boro are looking to record four successive league wins for the second time this season.

Preston's promotion challenge is wobbling on the back of successive home defeats by Derby and Hull City in which they have failed to score but they did win their last away game, 2-0 at Bristol City.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten across their past three home league games against Preston North End (W2 D1), netting nine goals in those matches. Since the start of 2022-23, it is the most goals they've scored on home soil against any side in the Championship.

• Preston North End are unbeaten across their past four league games against Middlesbrough (W2 D2), while they last enjoyed a longer unbeaten run in this fixture between December 1951 and December 1953 (five games).

• Following a 4-0 win against Southampton earlier this month, Middlesbrough are looking to record a clean sheet in consecutive home league games for the first time since their first two at the Riverside this season.

• Preston have lost their past two league games, though both have come at home. They last lost more consecutively in April last season (4).

• Morgan Whittaker has scored six goals in 12 home league appearances for Middlesbrough this season. That is at least three times as many as any of his team-mates at the Riverside (two for David Strelec, Hayden Hackney, Tommy Conway and Dael Fry).

Image source, Shutterstock

All English Football League games across a four-day period in February will begin one minute late to raise awareness for the Every Minute Matters campaign.

The initiative will be in place for 36 matches across the Championship, League One and League Two between 5 and 9 February.

EFL sponsor Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have been working together since May 2024 to highlight the importance of speed when it comes to performing live-saving CPR.

Later kick-off times will serve as "a stark reminder that every minute matters", the EFL said.

Bristol Rovers defender Tom Lockyer collapsed while playing for Luton Town eight minutes into the Championship play-off final against Coventry in May 2023.

Lockyer then suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch seven months later during a Premier League game at Bournemouth.

"What happened to me can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time," said Lockyer, who is now a BHF ambassador.

"Every year, more than 40,000 people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and most of them never make it home.

"I'm here today because of the transformative power of CPR as every minute matters when it comes to saving a life.

"This February, we want everyone to get behind this life-saving initiative, learn the skills and be ready to step in because your actions could give someone else the chance I was given."

Throughout February, the Every Minute Matters campaign will call on fans to learn CPR using the BHF's online RevivR, external tool.

"Each minute without CPR reduces a person's chance of survival, so we're urging fans to learn the skills now, before you ever need them," said Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the BHF.

EFL chief executive officer Trevor Birch added: "The one minute kick-off adjustment is a simple, powerful reminder that swift CPR can be the difference between life and death."

Preston North End remain keen on signing Portsmouth forward Callum Lang after failing with a £2m bid in the summer transfer window. (Lancashire Post), external

Read all the latest EFL transfer rumours in Wednesday's gossip column here.

Both hosts Preston North End and visitors Hull City will be looking to remain inside the top six when they meet at Deepdale on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

As it stands, the Tigers only need a draw to retain their fifth placed position, while a victory could see them jump up a place should Millwall be unable to claim a point from league leaders Coventry City.

But it's North End who will be feeling the heat, with multiple teams chasing their sixth place and coming off a disappointing late 1-0 loss to Derby County.

• There has been just one goal in Preston's last three home league games against Hull City, with two finishing 0-0 (August 2022, March 2024) and the Lilywhites winning this exact fixture 1-0 last term.

• Hull have only lost one of their last seven league meetings with Preston (W2 D4), going down 1-0 in December 2024.

• Preston have only lost one of their last 30 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) home league games (W13 D16), a 0-1 defeat to Birmingham in October this season.

• Hull have lost each of their last six away league games played in midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), scoring just one goal in this run. The Tigers had won six in a row prior to this.

• Preston's Paul Heckingbottom has only lost one of his four previous home games as a Championship manager against Hull (W2 D1), going down 0-1 with Barnsley in October 2017.

Millwall are reportedly rivalling Stoke City and Preston North End to sign veteran midfielder Barry Bannan from Sheffield Wednesday, but Owls boss Henrik Pedersen is hopeful the 36-year-old will stay at the club. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.