Wanderers have won the race to sign keeper Andy Lonergan from Leeds United.
The Whites fought off last minute interest from a string of clubs, including Ipswich Town, to secure the 28-year-old stopper for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £200,000.
Lonergan should be announced as Owen Coyle’s third summer signing today and is understood to be travelling with the squad to Scotland to prepare for their first pre-season friendly against Ayr United.
Coyle is a big fan of the Preston-born stopper after crossing paths in the Championship a few seasons ago and believes he is the right man to put pressure on Adam Bogdan for a first-team slot.
Lonergan was first choice for Leeds last term after arriving from Preston North End but when Neil Warnock sought to recruit Paddy Kenny from QPR this summer, a string of clubs were alerted to his availability.
It seemed heading into the weekend as if Wanderers could be beaten to the punch by Ipswich, who were willing to offer the full asking price and the promise of regular first team football. Sources close to the player also revealed that three other clubs had contacted Leeds looking to do business. But Coyle knew he had landed his man on Saturday, and Lonergan underwent a medical over the weekend before completing the formalities of the move.
Whether that spells the end of Wanderers’ recruitment for now remains to be seen, with Coyle hinting recently that he could add “one or two” more players to his squad before investigating the loan market.
Colombian Carlos Sanchez is still a possibility, although the club’s interest in Kalifa Cisse could affect Coyle’s plans on that front.