Preston North End told to eye Danny Ings & Charlton Athletic player to solve key issue | OneFootball

Preston North End have been told to sign Danny Ings or one other free agent striker this summer

Preston North End can bolster their chances of enjoying a stronger season than last in 2026-27 by signing a new striker - and there are a number available on the market as free agents.

Paul Heckingbottom's side finished 14th in the Championship last campaign, 13 points adrift of the last play-off place, which was occupied by eventual promotion winners Hull City.

North End's top scorer last term was Lewis Dobbin, who was on loan at Deepdale from Aston Villa, and has subsequently returned to his parent club.

With that in mind, Preston must utilise the summer transfer window to sign a new striker ahead of next season, with a play-off finish potentially on the cards if they get their business right - and until a takeover from Amr Zedan either happens or falls through, it's expected that Heckingbottom will have to rely on freebies and loan deals to strengthen his squad.

Preston North End claim dropped on Danny Ings and ex-Birmingham City striker

Action Images

Danny Ings is among the free agents available to Championship clubs this summer, having parted company with Sheffield United after one season with the Blades.

Football League World asked our Preston fan pundit, Darren Watson, which of the potentially realistic free transfers available to his club this summer he would like the Lilywhites to land, and why, with Ings one of the two names dropped that PNE need to consider.

Watson told FLW: "We all know that Preston North End do like a free transfer, obviously, with the current ownership not likely to spend any money.

"But hopefully, with the potential news of the takeover, this might change. But we have heard rumours of Michael Smith potentially moving this transfer window.

"If that's the case, Preston need to get some players in the attacking options. From the options there, I think Danny Ings or Lyndon Dykes might be a figure we need to look at.

"Obviously, both potential free transfers we could bring in. Bags of experience, and we could add to our squad as well. If Michael Smith does go, and potentially, with Milutin Osmajic, with one year left on his contract, do we continue him on his contract, or do we just look to sell and get some money for him, because he's a bit of a liability at times?

"He's proven that numerous times for a couple of seasons now. I personally think that we should be looking at some of these free transfers up top, because in recent years, it has been the strike force we have been lacking of, that lacking of goals.

"We do need to be looking at free transfers for some strikers or some attacking wingers as well."

Danny Ings or Lyndon Dykes could offer Preston North End something different

As Watson alluded to, Amr Zedan has been in takeover talks with Preston, and the Lilywhites' chances of enjoying a successful summer transfer window may be bolstered if he gets his transaction over the line.

For now, though, the Lancashire outfit should be interested in the free agent market, which can help them strengthen their squad without paying fees.

Ings could be a strong option even though he endured a lack of game time at Bramall Lane last season, amid the presence of strong strikers such as fellow ex-England international Patrick Bamford.

The 33-year-old previously proved his class in the Premier League with Southampton, while he has Championship experience thanks to his Burnley days.

Regular game time at a club like PNE could help Ings reignite his best form in the latter years of his career, whilst in the case of Dykes, he's a man in-demand despite never being the most prolific of goalscorers in the EFL.

Having signed for Charlton in January on a free transfer from Birmingham, Dykes is courting interest from both Leicester City and Millwall, whilst also being offered a new deal at The Valley - all whilst being at the FIFA World Cup with Scotland.

Dykes is a player that would put in hard graft and do the 'dirty work' that could bring other attackers into play - something that PNE have perhaps been lacking in recent times, given the ineffectiveness of last summers recruit in the form of Michael Smith.