Amr Zedan's Preston North End takeover: 'I'm rubbing my hands here' - but Derby County warning sent | OneFootball

FLW's Preston fan pundit has provided their thoughts on the potential purchase of the club by Amr Zedan

US-Saudi businessman Amr Zedan is in advanced talks to purchase Preston North End, with a deal edging ever closer at Deepdale to its completion.

Preston look set for another mid-table season in the EFL Championship, with the Lilywhites having fallen away from the play-off places under Paul Heckingbottom after making such a solid start to the campaign.

Little investment has been made in the club over the years, with their record signing still being the £2.1 million deal to bring Montenegrin forward Milutin Osmajic to Lancashire, so it's hardly surprising that they have fallen away from the top six, especially with numerous Championship rivals outspending them at almost every corner.

However, Preston's days of spending little could be over soon, with a potential regime change at the head of the club igniting a new era at the club.

Amr Zedan could become the new owner of Preston North End if a deal is agreed

Everything could all be about to change at Deepdale, with Los Angeles-born Saudi businessman Zedan progressing in talks over a deal to purchase Preston from the Hemmings family in a deal which could reach around £12-£15 million to complete.

Zedan was spotted as a VIP guest for the Lilywhites' 1-1 draw at home to Queens Park Rangers on Monday, as well as their 2-2 draw with Leicester City on Saturday, as the 51-year-old continues to be open about his interest in acquiring the club.

With Zedan progressing in talks to purchase Preston, Football League World's Lilywhites fan pundit, Darren, has provided their thoughts on the potential takeover and how they feel about the club being sold.

Darren said: "Yeah, to be perfectly honest with you, I cannot wait for this to happen. I know it's obviously only rumours at the moment, but the rumours obviously fuelled the trip to Deepdale and obviously the things that have happened in the media in the past.

"So again, yes, I understand we've got to be careful with this. Obviously, thinking back to the incident where Derby County obviously had that businessman, where they dodged a bullet there with that person who didn't have enough money for the club, we've got to be careful in that type of sense.

"Is this the right man to take Preston North End on and all of its responsibilities? Because it's one of obviously the most prestigious clubs in the world, whether you like it or not me saying that. It is the founding member of the Football League, the winner of the first league, our inaugural league and FA Cup double, and going invincible during that season as well. So we've got some weight to our name.

"Personally, it's been a long time coming. I think we need a different direction, a new, fresh direction, and this is it. You know, I feel like this is something different. We need to have a proper clean slate. That means everything. We need to just do everything better this time around.

"If he does buy into the club or invest, we need to put the money in the right places. For example, the pitch, a couple of things around the stadium and also the players as well, because that is the main thing.

"Our main aim is to get out of this Championship once and for all and get into the Premiership, get into the top league in the English pyramid, you know, for the first time in a decade, well, not a decade, but since the 60s was the last time that Preston North End was in the top flight. So it's a long, long time coming.

"And yeah, it's just, you know, it's just one of them things. It's a long time coming, and this guy really needs to come in and just buy the club, because I'm rubbing my hands here just in expectation of this man and the news to come out that the club has been bought, and we can start a fresh, clean slate, and hopefully go on the charge for promotion."

Preston's new ownership could see a change in transfer strategy at the club

With Preston having never been one to flaunt the cash throughout their entire history, that could all well change should Zedan take the reins at Deepdale.

Certainly, you would imagine a significant amount of investment will be made in the club should any takeover be complete, with Zedan likely looking to help guide Preston back to the top flight after a long-term absence.

Whilst the Lilywhites have certainly managed to establish themselves in the second tier over the years with minimal spending, many Preston supporters will likely be frustrated at their lack of fight at the top end of the division, and would urge more investment to be made into the playing squad to help with that.

There are no guarantees at this stage that Zedan will necessarily spend more than their current owners, but there's also no reason why fans can't dream.