Ali McCann set to agree terms as West Brom hunt Preston deal
West Brom are in the race to sign Preston North End captain Ali McCann.
McCann, 25, has been at Preston since 2021 and the Northern Irishman has established himself as a mainstay in the North End midfield.
The Baggies are looking to bolster their squad ahead of their maiden season under Ryan Mason, after missing out on the play-offs last season.
Nat Phillips became Mason’s first signing for £3million from Liverpool, and the Englishman is looking to bring in McCann to bolster his midfield.
McCann set to sign new Preston contract
West Brom look set to miss out on a deal for the Northern Irish international this summer.
The Sun on Sunday (Page 59, 6 July) has reported that McCann is set to sign a new deal at Preston to keep him at Deepdale.
The Baggies are keen on a deal but are unlikely to find the cash required to get the deal done, whether the midfielder signs his new deal or not.
McCann’s current deal at Deepdale is set to expire in the summer of 2027, having only signed that deal in January 2024.
West Brom need to move on to other targets quickly
Ryan Mason’s side continue to have many names on their transfer wishlist for the summer away from the Northern Ireland international.
| Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Championship | 119 | 2 | 0 |
A big-money move for Norwegian striker Aune Heggebo is set to be completed for a reported £4.75million, which is likely the reason why West Brom are unlikely to facilitate a deal for McCann.
The forward line has to be seen as a priority this summer at The Hawthorns, given how poor the Baggies’ goalscoring numbers were last season, leading to a run of just two goals in seven Championship games between October and November.
Midfield targets will likely be on the cheaper side should West Brom be unable to raise funds via sales, with Sheffield Wednesday’s Barry Bannan a more viable target given the Owls’ financial issues.
McCann is not a necessity this summer, but the Baggies need to move fast to get their targets through the door at The Hawthorns.
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