3 Preston transfer targets named as Milutin Osmajic exit threat looms | OneFootball

Milutin Osmajic could leave Preston North End, with Tom Cannon, Cameron Archer and Adama Sidibeh all options to replace him.

Preston North End could part company with Milutin Osmajic before the September 1st transfer deadline, with Tom Cannon and Cameron Archer still amongst a three-man list of players that could replace him at Deepdale.

Osmajic has been a controversial figure at Preston during his time with the club, but he's consistently scored goals for North End, with 25 across his three full seasons.

Alan Nixon reports that Genoa are closing in on a deal for the 27-year-old now, as he has entered the final year of his contract with the EFL Championship side.

It's claimed that Preston will receive a fee upfront and then staggered payments from the Serie A side, and also that they will 'try' and replace him in what remains of the transfer window.

Further into Nixon's report, he goes on to list the players who could replace Osmajic ahead of September 1st, including Cannon and Archer.

Tom Cannon

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Sheffield United striker, Tom Cannon, is someone on Preston's radar according to Nixon.

The striker previously impressed on loan with Preston in the Championship, with eight goals in 20 Championship appearances during a loan spell in 2023.

Since then he's had stints with Stoke City, Leicester City and Sheffield United, with the latter paying £10m to sign him on the back of some red-hot form for Stoke.

However, Cannon has scored just seven times in the Championship for the Blades and is down the pecking order. Patrick Bamford and Tyrese Campbell were used in Saturday's goalless draw with Swansea City and Cannon was an unused sub.

Nixon states that Sheffield United will have to ask for less if Preston are to press on with their interest.

Cameron Archer

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Like Cannon, Cameron Archer is another former Preston loanee that the club have been linked with this summer.

He scored seven times in 20 appearances for PNE in 2022, impressing on loan from Aston Villa.

Archer had an impressive stint at Middlesbrough, too, whilst also playing for Sheffield United in the Premier League. He's currently on the books at Southampton, but is behind Cyle Larin and Divin Mubama in Tonda Eckert's plans - that pair were both on the scoresheet in Saturday's 3-1 win versus Stoke City.

Eckert left Archer on the bench despite Southampton pushing for a late winner.

Adama Sidibeh

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Nixon finally claims that Sidibeh is a 'live candidate' to come in and replace Osmajic at Deepdale.

Rather than poaching a striker from a Championship rival, this would be Preston looking into League One, with Sidibeh on the books at Stockport County.

He's scored 10 goals in 25 appearances for Stockport since arriving from St Johnstone in January 2026. That hot-run of form helped Stockport reach last season's League One play-off final, but they were hammered by Bolton Wanderers at Wembley in a game that Sidibeh did score in.

Sidibeh hasn't featured in 2026/27 yet for Stockport thanks to a hamstring injury that was, coincidentally, picked up against Preston in pre-season.