Exclusive: Preston North End and Oxford plot move to sign Huddersfield Town star | OneFootball

Preston North End and Oxford United are among a number of Championship clubs eyeing Huddersfield Town's Joe Taylor, Football League World understands

Huddersfield Town may have headed into the 2025/26 campaign firmly among the favourites to clinch the League One title under Lee Grant, although the Terriers' chances of even making the top-six now hang firmly in the balance as we enter the dying embers of the season.

It has been another campaign marred by inconsistency and change at the Accu Stadium, with the aforementioned Grant having been relieved of his duties back in January to be replaced by ex-Bristol City and Norwich boss Liam Manning.

Huddersfield's fortunes have hardly fared better since Manning's appointment, however, and despite strong pre-season expectations for a title charge in West Yorkshire following last term's mid-table finish, Town find themselves positioned in ninth-place at the time of writing.

With sixth-placed Stevenage, who are three points ahead of Huddersfield, also having an all-important game in hand, there's every chance that the Terriers will be spending a third straight season in English football's third-tier.

Huddersfield have won just two of their last nine outings to lose considerable ground in the race for the play-offs, with the stunning performances of one Town player out on loan during that time simply adding insult to injury - and he's now garnering considerable interest ahead of a potential transfer tussle this summer.

Oxford United, Preston North End eyeing Huddersfield Town's Joe Taylor

Football League World can exclusively reveal that the player in question is Joe Taylor, who has turned heads since heading to League One rivals Wigan Athletic on loan in January and could find himself on the move once more by the time the summer rolls around.

Indeed, FLW broke the news of Taylor's switch to the Brick Community Stadium, and we can now reveal interest in the Welshman's services yet again.

This time, FLW understands that Championship duo Oxford United and Preston North End are both weighing up moves for Taylor as he continues to shine on loan at Wigan.

FLW has also learned that Oxford and Preston are indeed just two of a number of second-tier outfits to have taken a look at Taylor, with no shortage of competition set to be faced should they decide to amplify their admiration.

The 23-year-old has endured a mixed stay with Huddersfield since joining from Luton Town last January, having scored nine goals from 42 appearances to date.

However, he's proved a huge hit in the North West and has already found the back of the net on nine occasions in 14 outings, including three in his last three to put suitors on red alert heading into the summer window.

Huddersfield Town may have Joe Taylor transfer regret

The decision to loan Taylor out to a league rival despite lacking a plethora of prolific striking options was a divisive one among the Huddersfield fanbase, and while there's little denying that the former Wales youth international had flattered to deceive on many occasions, it's now representing an increasingly ill-fated call of judgement.

Huddersfield have been hindered by the absence of Bojan Radulovic since the end of January, with the rejuvenated Serbian frontman proving a reliable source of both goals and assists in blue-and-white this term, whereas both Dion Charles and Alfie May have both underwhelmed with just seven league goals between them despite historically strong records at this level.

Bobby Wales has made a minimal impact since his loan arrival from Swansea City, too, and Huddersfield's hopes for the remainder of the season are now positioned on the shoulders of Ryan Hardie.

The Scotsman knows how to score at both League One and Championship level, but with Taylor ripping it up at Wigan and in with a shot of returning to the second-tier with or without Huddersfield, it's hard to see the Terriers not feeling a tinge of regret right now.