Preston North End are already making plans for the summer transfer window following a season that promised much more than a 14th-place finish in the Championship.

Paul Heckingbottom’s side spent much of the first half of the season in play-off contention before faltering significantly after the turn of the year, with injuries, recalls, and a lack of depth eventually catching up with them.

Despite the slump, the Lilywhites managed to produce a number of positives throughout the 2025/26 campaign, particularly in the loan market.

Alfie Devine, a Tottenham Hotspur prospect, quickly established himself as one of Preston’s top players, playing an important role in Heckingbottom’s attacking formation.

The 21-year-old midfielder finished the season with eight goals and six assists in 45 Championship appearances, earning PNE’s Young Player of the Year accolade, and his form has generated talk that North End could sign him permanently this summer.

Preston North End is working on a payment mechanism for the permanent Alfie Devine move.

That move could be a little closer now, according to Alan Nixon via Patreon, as Preston are hoping to complete a club-record signing for Devine after agreeing a £4.5 million fee with Spurs for his season-long loan last summer.

According to the report, the Lancashire outfit is now attempting to negotiate a payment structure with the London giants that would allow the fee to be spread over three or four years due to their limited budget, with a takeover attempt by US-Saudi businessman Amr Zedan still pending.

Devine joined Deepdale on a temporary basis last summer and soon established himself as one of the Championship’s most promising young midfield players.

After loan experiences at Port Vale, Plymouth Argyle, and Belgian team Westerlo, Devine’s performance this season was the clearest evidence yet that he is ready to establish himself as a senior player at a top level, with eight Championship goals and six assists.

However, in recent months, interest in the midfielder has grown significantly. Celtic have been linked with a move, although Tottenham are also thought to be keenly monitoring his growth in anticipation of a future recall following his successful season under Heckingbottom.

But Preston appear determined to give themselves every chance of winning the race for his signing, and they were already in a good position due to the pre-agreed transfer fee.

The proposed £4.5 million deal would easily surpass Preston’s previous transfer record – a reported £2.1 million for Milutin Osmajic (Callum Lang’s move from Portsmouth could exceed that fee) – and represent a significant statement of intent from the club, especially given ongoing takeover speculation.

Alfie Devine’s pursuit may disclose Preston North End’s summer aspirations.

Whether Preston can complete a deal for Devine may depend on more than just agreeing on payment conditions with Tottenham.

The midfielder would still need convincing that Deepdale is the proper setting for the next stage of his development, especially with other clubs showing interest and options higher up the football pyramid.

However, PNE can make a compelling case.

Devine became one of Heckingbottom’s most trusted players this season, and he was frequently played in a capacity that allowed him to express himself freely. During Preston’s most successful period, his relationship with his teammates became crucial to the club’s attacking identity.

There is also a growing sense that North End understands the necessity of retaining the nucleus of what appeared to be a true play-off-caliber team until their season unraveled in January.

Heckingbottom has often emphasized the necessity for Preston to cease developing loan players only for the benefit of other teams. Securing Devine permanently would be a huge shift in that approach.

Financially, it would be a significant risk for a team that has usually been among the Championship’s lowest spenders. However, if Preston can negotiate favorable payment terms with Spurs, the move may become far more feasible than previously anticipated.

After years of careful recruitment, PNE’s relentless pursuit of one of the division’s best young prospects could be the clearest evidence yet that the club is looking ahead to the 2026/27 season.