TWTD understands that Town are closing in on the loan signing of midfielder or wideman Josh Harrop from Preston and the move could be completed today.

The 25-year-old, who prefers to play as a number 10, is due to travel to Suffolk today to finalise the formalities relating to the deal.

As reported on Thursday, Preston's recruitment of another midfielder, Ben Whiteman from Doncaster, has freed up Harrop to make the switch with discussions having continued since that deal was completed.

Stockport-born Harrop, who is understood to have been the player Stuart Taylor said Town hoped to sign before the Swindon match, joined Preston in June 2017 having come through the youth system at Manchester United, where he made one Premier League start for the Red Devils in a 2-0 home win over Crystal Palace on the final day of 2016/17 and scored the opening goal.

Harrop, who is 5ft 9in tall, has made 39 starts and 55 sub appearances for Preston, scoring 13 times.

However, this season Harrop has made four starts, one in the Championship, and four appearances from the bench, scoring once. He was left out of the 20-man squad which lost 2-0 at Bristol City at the weekend.

Capped three times by England’s U20s, Harrop signed a new contract at Deepdale which runs to 2023 in August.

At 25, Harrop counts as a senior player in terms of the salary cap with the club having a limit of 22 players aged over 21.

In addition to Harrop, the Blues are also eyeing Luke Thomas, who is looking to move to play more games having had limited opportunities at Barnsley.

Another player TWTD has learned Town were keen on is 18-year-old Manchester City winger Morgan Rogers, who opted to join Lincoln City on loan a fortnight ago.

Photo: Action Images

istanblue added 14:14 - Jan 18 ''Another player TWTD has learned Town were keen on is 18-year-old Manchester City winger Morgan Rogers, who opted to join Lincoln City on loan a fortnight ago.'' Says it all about the utter state of our club if a player would choose Lincoln over us.
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ringwoodblue added 14:14 - Jan 18 I hope this goes through as we need some more width and quality although he'll probably get injured in training before he plays a match knowing our luck.
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tetchris added 14:39 - Jan 18 I'd like to see us sign a big target man. It's ok playing attractive football but in this league sometimes you just have to hit it long, the striker holds it up and brings others into play.
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blues1 added 14:47 - Jan 18 Arnie m. Well that shows what you know about football. We play 433 The front 3 would be ur CF, and 2 wide men. Therefore, the midfield is 2 in front of the back 4 plus 1 in the no10 role. So yes, a forward midfield role. If we played 4411 then the number 10, would be a forwards role. As u say tho on the good old days, in a 442 then 9&10 are both in the striker roles.
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atty added 15:24 - Jan 18 Just like to say PNE have a proud history, and are currently doing much better than us, We too have a proud history. We are not a small provincial club. I would say we are a medium sized club, The use of the word provincial sounds like an unnecessary put down, it basically means anywhere outside the capital. Man U a big provincial club.
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chepstowblue added 15:31 - Jan 18 I'm waiting to hear that he joined Peterborough at 4 o'clock!
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BettyBlue added 15:40 - Jan 18 what is point? he's had a Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury. that's the end of him
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BettyBlue added 15:42 - Jan 18 are we building an injury treatment room or trying to get promoted?
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Bert added 16:20 - Jan 18 It will be a very crowed midfield but if he really is an advance or attacking midfielder it could make a difference. Agree that with only one up front it is a bit of a nonsense. Anyway, let's welcome the lad who has chosen to come.... assuming he actually arrives.
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stiggytrunk1955 added 16:25 - Jan 18 whats the point of having loan players after the next two games hopefullly lambert will be and taken chambers with him
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grow_our_own added 16:44 - Jan 18 I hope Harrop is only a backup, and does not impede the development of our first choice midfield: Dozzell, Downes & Bishop. Sick of loanees blocking our player development
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ArnieM added 17:02 - Jan 18 Blues1: have you actually watched our so called 433? Have you not read the countless Town fans complaining about how isolated Norwood or Jackson is in that formation ? So whether it's Dozzell, Judge or now this PNE player playing in a “ forward midfield “ role it's still shyte isn't it !! We NEED A FRONT TWO strike force ( 442) . So if the PNE plays a forward role and gets into the box and scores goals why not play him in a striker duo? It's not f lucking rocket science . Oh and this “ forward midfielder “ apparently plays on the wing .. So his much better than what we already have, bearing in mind we're supposedly after the Barnsley winger ? IMHO, We NEED a striker duo. Do we really need yet another Judge type of player ?

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Scuzzer added 17:25 - Jan 18 Lee Martin was a Manure trainee.
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Fatboy added 17:41 - Jan 18 We seem to close in on signings at about the same pace that our passing closes in on goal.
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Saxonblue74 added 18:11 - Jan 18 Blues1, you are a very angry individual!
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StavangerBlue added 18:27 - Jan 18 We need a striker. We beat the lowest team in the league by one goal. They conceded 50 before Saturday's game. It took a centre back to score. Why are we looking at a midfielder? I do not get this club anymore. No plan. No strategy.
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