How Portsmouth played a key role in helping Preston North End avoid a January transfer calamity
Preston North End approached the January transfer window with extreme caution, leaving their business until the very last moment. Prior to deadline day, the club had brought in just a single loanee, raising concerns among supporters who felt reinforcements were urgently required.
Those fears were heightened by a worrying run of form. A three-match goal drought saw North End fail to pick up a single point, a slump that caused them to slide from the Championship’s top six down to ninth place. With promotion hopes beginning to wobble, fans were vocal in their calls for manager Paul Heckingbottom to strengthen his attacking options before the window closed.
The club’s first response came in the form of Milos Lukovic, a highly-rated young striker who arrived on a six-month loan from French side Strasbourg. While the move offered promise, it was largely viewed as a short-term fix rather than a definitive solution to Preston’s lack of firepower. Encouragingly, Lukovic’s arrival coincided with a much-improved display, as North End earned a hard-fought 1–1 draw away at promotion contenders Ipswich Town.
However, it was deadline day that truly satisfied supporters. With time running out, Preston finally confirmed the signing of a permanent forward—one they had been chasing since the summer and one with a proven Championship pedigree.
Preston break their transfer record to sign Callum Lang from Portsmouth
Despite welcoming a dozen new players in the previous summer window, there was a growing feeling among the fanbase that Preston’s forward line lacked sufficient depth. That concern proved valid as injuries and suspensions mounted, severely limiting Heckingbottom’s attacking options.
Remarkably, the only forward available for every league match this season has been 34-year-old Michael Smith, who joined on a free transfer. While dependable, Smith has managed just three goals in 28 league appearances, underlining the need for greater attacking threat.
One player Preston had long admired was Callum Lang. The 27-year-old forward was instrumental in Portsmouth’s League One title-winning campaign during the second half of the 2023/24 season, leading their attack with consistency and confidence. During that period, he averaged a goal every three league matches and recorded more than 0.5 goals per 90 minutes, according to FBref statistics.
Lang carried that form into his first full Championship campaign, scoring 10 goals in 32 appearances as Pompey finished 16th. Preston reportedly had a £2 million bid rejected during the summer, but their interest never waned.
That persistence finally paid off on deadline day, when Lang completed a move to Deepdale for an undisclosed fee. While the precise figure has not been revealed, Preston confirmed it represents a club-record transfer, surpassing the £2.1 million spent on Milutin Osmajic in 2023.
Lang set for an immediate debut—against his former club
Heckingbottom expressed clear relief and satisfaction at getting the deal over the line in time, praising the club’s efforts to complete what had been a difficult negotiation. He highlighted Lang’s Championship experience, his consistent goal record, and his versatility in attack, while stressing that the plan is to use him aggressively in and around the penalty area.
Lang himself echoed that optimism, stating his excitement about Preston’s ambitions and his confidence in being able to make a tangible impact at this level.
Circumstances suggest he may be thrown straight into the starting XI this weekend, with Will Keane having departed earlier in January, Osmajic still serving a suspension, and Lukovic continuing to adapt to English football. In a twist of fate, Lang’s potential debut could come against Portsmouth themselves at Deepdale.
Pompey manager and former Preston player John Mousinho confirmed that Lang had been training without issue and was left out of Portsmouth’s recent win over West Brom purely for tactical reasons. This will reassure North End fans, particularly after Lang endured a year disrupted by injuries on the south coast.
Given Preston have scored only once in their last four matches, anticipation around Lang’s influence is understandably high.
A potential catalyst for renewed promotion momentum
Although Preston spent much of the season in the play-off positions, their recent winless run has dented momentum. Now ninth in the table, they sit three points off the play-offs, but with little margin for error—just two points separate them from mid-table Birmingham City.
Goals have been a recurring issue. In fact, six of the eight teams currently below Preston have outscored them, highlighting the importance of adding a reliable attacking presence.
If Preston can correct course in the coming fixtures—starting with their clash against 20th-placed Portsmouth—they may yet rekindle belief among supporters. Even with limited appearances this season, Lang has still managed two goals in eight games, demonstrating his natural instincts in front of goal.
Should he remain fit, Lang has the potential to provide exactly what Preston have been missing: composure, movement, and cutting edge. His arrival may not only have salvaged their January transfer window, but could also prove pivotal in rescuing their promotion push.
