The Lancashire Evening Post reports that Preston North End have rejected a bid from Sky Bet Championship rivals Ipswich Town for striker Jordan Hugill. The 24-year-old, who only joined for £25,000, is a wanted man at Portman Road, and a bid in the region of £1.5million have been turned down.
Simon Grayson has recently installed Hugill back into the side after being benched for a period of time, with towering forward Simon Makienok being given the nod. Now he is back in the eleven, he has become a key player once again and the club certainly aren’t interested in letting him go.
He remains under contract at Deepdale for another two-and-a-half years having only signed a new deal in September 2016. Mick McCarthy is desperately keen to boost his Ipswich side this month, mainly offensively as scoring goals has been their major problem this season so far. Hugill was identified as a target, but they look likely to switch their attentions elsewhere.
Hugill has netted six goals this season and did feature in Preston’s 1-0 away defeat to Ipswich back in August. Grayson wants to keep his squad together this month and isn’t necessarily looking to do too much more business regards to incomings either.
Bailey Wright recently left to join league rivals Bristol City, with his contract due to expire at the end of the season. Grayson didn’t want a repeat to happen for the likes of Hugill, which is why he was offered and signed a new deal last year. Hugill started the Emirates FA Cup Third Round defeat to Arsenal last weekend, and looks set to start up front at home to league leaders Brighton & Hove Albion as well.
