Preston North End have beaten off Championship rival Charlton Athletic and Queens Park Rangers to sign Brighton & Hove Albion defender Odeluga Offiah.
As reported QPR and Charlton were first to register their interest in the 22-year-old, with the Seagulls open to letting the player leave permanently.
Both Championship sides have been locked in discussions with both club and player, but it now appears that Preston have swooped in and will secure the defenders services.
Offiah spent last season on loan with Blackpool, making 40 appearances. The player impressed in Steve Bruce’s team, showing his versatility playing centrally and in his preferred position of right-back.
After six Premier League appearances, it seems that Offiah will now leave the south coast for Lancashire permanently, in search of consistent first team football.
At 22, the young defender still has a lot of work to do but also has the potential to be an astute signing for Paul Heckingbottom’s Preston.
Offiah has impressed at League One level and looks ready to play in England’s second tier. The player also has less than six months left on his deal at Brighton, meaning the fee for the defender will not be substantial.
The arrival of the London-born player will likely allow fellow new signing, Thierry Small, head over to his more natural side on the left-hand-side.
Whilst Preston is making moves to avoid another relegations fight, Charlton are enduring some transfer pain since beating Leyton Orient in the playoff final last season.
The Addicks were also interested in Reading defender Amadou Mbengue, a player they believed could elevate their central defence. Instead, the player chose to move to QPR in a blow for Nathan Jones’s team.
Whilst Jones looks for other options in outfield players, Charlton did confirm the signing of Luton Town goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski, who will no doubt be the sides No. 1 going into the season.
