Preston and West Brom face Southampton transfer blow | OneFootball

Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion target Cameron Archer is set to join French outfit Auxerre on deadline day

Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion are set to miss out on Southampton striker Cameron Archer on deadline day, with the former England youth international heading overseas to link back up with a familiar face.

Indeed, Southampton forward Archer is finally set to join a new club on the last day of the window, as Pete O'Rourke has reported via X that the 24-year-old is currently having a medical with French outfit Auxerre ahead of a move abroad.

Archer looks set to link back up with former Saints boss Will Still in France, which will come as a huge blow to Championship duo Preston and West Brom.

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Archer has had a tough couple of years since his £15 million move to Southampton in the summer of 2024, suffering relegation from the Premier League and falling out of favour under Tonda Eckert at St Mary's.

The Aston Villa academy graduate enjoyed excellent spells on loan with Preston and Middlesbrough in years prior, but has struggled to replicate that form since, as he is set for a fresh start under former boss Still in France.

Preston had registered an interest in bringing the forward back to Deepdale on loan, as per Alan Nixon's Patreon, whilst West Brom had been interested in a move throughout the entire summer.

Now, both clubs look set to miss out on the hitman, in a huge deadline-day blow to their transfer plans.

Why Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion wanted Cameron Archer

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Archer, despite his recent struggles with Southampton, has previously shown he is more than capable of consistently finding the back of the net at Championship level during spells with Preston and Middlesbrough.

The forward always looked set to leave the Saints this summer, especially after the permanent additions of Cyle Larin and Lewis Dobbin, whilst Divin Mubama has joined on loan from Manchester to further reinforce Eckert's attack.

Preston have lost each of Daniel Jebbison, Dobbin, Michael Smith, and Milutin Osmajic this summer, and whilst Jusef Erabi and Delano Burgzorg have joined, there is still a clear lack of options up top at Deepdale, as Archer remained an option.

West Brom are looking to continue their upwards trajectory under James Morrison, as with Aune Heggebo, Jimmy-Jay Morgan, and Barney Stewart all vying for a place up top, Archer would have been the cherry on top of the cake.

Football League World Baggies fan pundit, Callum Burgess, has previously urged their club to sign Archer, but now, looks set to be disappointed.

James Morrison and Paul Heckingbottom must recover from Cameron Archer's transfer blow

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With Archer on his way to Auxerre, Preston and West Brom must dust themselves down and go again in the transfer market, with just hours remaining.

The forward area remains a more pressing area for Preston than it does for West Brom, but Archer's move to France will no doubt come as a huge blow for the Baggies.

Paul Heckingbottom and James Morrison have a busy day ahead of them, as this news on Archer must be swiftly put behind them as they move on to other targets.