Preston North End should pursue an Aston Villa loan deal – recent results make it an obvious move
Preston North End’s January transfer window has been relatively uneventful so far. The Lilywhites have yet to add any new players since the New Year, although they have already sanctioned three exits from the squad.
Promising young midfielder Harrison Armstrong was recalled early by parent club Everton from what was initially a season-long loan. Will Keane has departed on a six-month loan to Reading, a move that will run until the end of his Preston contract, while Stefan Thordarsson has completed a permanent transfer to German side Hannover 96 for an undisclosed fee.
On the pitch, North End began 2026 in impressive fashion, producing commanding 3–0 and 2–0 victories over Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City. However, that momentum has since stalled, with back-to-back home defeats against Derby County and Hull City raising concerns. While Preston remain firmly in the play-off mix, maintaining a realistic push for promotion may depend on strengthening the squad before the window closes.
Preston’s loan strategy has already paid dividends this season
During the summer, head coach Paul Heckingbottom oversaw a major rebuild, bringing in 12 new players, four of whom arrived on loan from Premier League clubs.
Armstrong’s impact was so strong that Everton manager David Moyes opted to recall him at the first opportunity to help address his own squad’s injury problems. Yet Armstrong was far from the only loan signing to make a meaningful contribution.
Tottenham youngster Alfie Devine has flourished in an advanced midfield role, registering five goals and two assists. Bournemouth striker Daniel Jebbison has also been effective, scoring five league goals since reuniting with Heckingbottom at Deepdale.
The standout temporary signing, however, has been Aston Villa winger Lewis Dobbin. At 23, Dobbin has emerged as Preston’s most productive attacker in the league, leading the team with six goals and five assists across 22 appearances. That tally places him just ahead of Jebbison and well clear of Devine in terms of overall attacking output.
Statistically, Dobbin has been Preston’s most influential loanee this season, posting the highest goal involvement per 90 minutes among the club’s temporary players.
In December, Heckingbottom acknowledged the club’s financial realities, explaining that any new arrivals would require movement within the existing squad and sufficient funds to make deals possible. With recent departures freeing up space, Preston may now be in a position to explore further loan opportunities.
Louie Barry’s unpredictable journey through the EFL
One potential option is Aston Villa forward Louie Barry, whose career over the past few years has seen him move regularly across the EFL. Since leaving Villa Park on loan, the 22-year-old has represented Ipswich Town, Swindon Town, MK Dons, Salford City, Stockport County, Hull City and Sheffield United.
Barry truly found his stride during his time at Stockport County. He collected the League Two Player of the Month award in September 2023 and followed that up with the League One equivalent in August 2024 after Stockport earned promotion. His consistent goal-scoring form continued, earning him another Player of the Month award in November, before Villa recalled him in January 2025 following an outstanding 18-month spell that produced 24 goals and seven assists.
A permanent move to Hull City for £3.5 million was close last summer, but the deal collapsed due to EFL-imposed transfer restrictions. Despite interest from clubs such as Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City, Barry instead joined Sheffield United. Unfortunately, that move failed to spark his career back into life, as he struggled for minutes and confidence, starting only six matches and failing to register a goal before his loan was cut short earlier this month.
A fresh start that could benefit both Preston and Barry
Given Barry’s lack of Championship output over the past year, signing him may appear a gamble for a Preston side targeting the play-offs. He is yet to register a single goal contribution at second-tier level, but context is important.
Barry’s recent struggles came in teams that collectively underperformed, whereas Preston have largely operated as a cohesive and efficient unit this season. At Stockport, when surrounded by a settled and functional side, Barry proved devastatingly effective, averaging close to a goal contribution per game across League Two and League One.
Those numbers are difficult to overlook, particularly for a Preston squad with limited attacking depth. Jebbison has shown promise but has already suffered multiple injury setbacks. Michael Smith is approaching the latter stages of his career, while Milutin Osmajic, despite being a capable goal scorer, has endured suspensions and disciplinary issues this season.
Barry has demonstrated that he can thrive when embedded in a confident, well-structured team. With Preston’s campaign still on track despite recent goal droughts, a short-term loan move for a forward eager to prove himself at Championship level could be a smart and timely solution. Taking a calculated risk on a player with unfinished business in the EFL may be exactly what the Lilywhites need to reignite their attacking edge.
