Huddersfield Town leading chase for Preston North End man amid Plymouth Argyle, Oxford United interest | OneFootball

The Terriers are in talks with Ryan Ledson over a move as he prepares to leave Deepdale at the end of his contract

Huddersfield Town are in talks to sign out-of-contract Preston North End midfielder Ryan Ledson, according to a new report, as the Terriers look to build a squad worthy of competing for promotion from League One next season.

Huddersfield underachieved on their return to the third-tier following relegation from the Championship, as they finished 10th under interim boss Jon Worthington following Michael Duff's sacking in early March.

They were well in the play-off picture for the majority of the campaign, but fell away towards the end, and now their full focus will undoubtedly be on appointing a new boss to try and take them back to the second-tier next term.

Numerous new signings are also set to be on the agenda, with 10 first-team players set to be released at the end of their respective contracts in June, and Ledson could be on his way to the John Smith's Stadium as the first of those arrivals soon.

Huddersfield in pole position to sign Ryan Ledson after Preston contract decision

Ledson's seven-year stay at Preston is soon due to come to an end, after the club confirmed earlier this month that he would be departing this summer with his current contract set to expire in June.

He has been in-and-out of the Lilywhites' starting eleven under numerous different managers over the years, but is a solid player at second-tier level, and even picked up their Players and Supporters Player of the Year awards for the 2020/21 season.

The Daily Record have previously claimed that Huddersfield are interested in snapping him up on a free transfer soon, with Oxford United, Plymouth Argyle, Bolton Wanderers and Scottish side Hibernian also linked with a move, but it looks as if the Terriers have now stolen a march on their rivals in the race for his services this summer.

Transfer journalist Alan Nixon has revealed that Huddersfield are in talks with Liverpool-born Ledson about him joining on a free transfer when he officially departs North End.

The Terriers are believed to be lining up a move for the 27-year-old as they close in on appointing a new manager, and Nixon states that they have a strong chance of securing the deal despite the rival interest.

Ledson would be a top signing for Huddersfield - they need more quality to stage a promotion push

Ledson has failed to properly impact Preston's fortunes over the last few seasons, with a lack of progression since his 2020/21 exploits likely owing to his lack of a contract offer and subsequent release from Deepdale this summer.

With that said, he is still a player who has played regularly in the Championship for the last seven years, with four goals and 11 assists in 191 second-tier appearances since he joined the Lilywhites.

He was previously a standout in League One with Oxford United, at just 20-years-old, and so is surely likely to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the division if he chooses to drop down once again at the age of 27, with experience and nous added to his existing quality.

Managerless Huddersfield are in need of a real boost from incoming players this summer, with their squad seemingly down on confidence and down on numbers as the summer window beckons.

Their current options in central midfield are not exactly promotion-worthy, with Ben Wiles, David Kasumu and Herbie Kane the only current senior players at the John Smith's Stadium that count the middle of the park as their favoured position as it stands.

It is clear that, regardless of who comes in as boss, the Terriers need players of Ledson's quality and experience to help them push back up the third-tier next season. He would be a top signing, and it looks as if they have a real chance of securing his services in the coming weeks.