He had an excellent loan spell at PNE in the 2025/26 season
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Alfie Devine’s immediate future will be a primary focus for Preston North End supporters this summer.
The Deepdale faithful watched the midfielder have a terrific season on loan with the Lilywhites, from Tottenham Hotspur. Devine endeared himself to the fans, scoring eight goals and assisting as many.
Now, attention turns to where he will be playing his football next season. PNE’s option-to-buy the midfielder has been well documented. North End will have a specified period to exercise that in the summer.
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As communicated by Preston CEO Peter Ridsdale, personal terms have already been agreed with the player. However, that is the framework of a potential deal and Devine is not obliged to accept the move if he doesn’t want to.
Now, journalist Alan Nixon has reported that PNE hope to agree a deal with Spurs, with the £4.5million fee spread over a number of years. North End’s budget is said to be ‘restricted’ but a payment plan could make a deal possible.
Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom made his stance clear after the last game of the season, simply replying, ‘Yeah’, when asked if he expects PNE to do everything they can to sign Devine permanently.
One thing that does bode well for Preston is Tottenham Hotspur’s increased chances of survival. However, relegated Wolves are believed to be big admirers of Devine’s. There have also been reports of Celtic potentially making a move.
Discussing his future last month, the player himself said: “What next season will look like, I can't really tell you. But, I know that I'll be pushing for the thing that probably will be the best for me and what I want for myself, not what other people will want for me.
“There's obviously the buy option in the loan and stuff. It's hard to say whether that'll happen or that won't happen, because in football things change so fast. I'll be sure to pick something that's right for me and if that takes time, then it takes time.”
“He’ll improve again.”
Heckingbottom pushed to bring Devine to the club last August, after being impressed by his loan spell in Belgium with Westerlo. The midfielder was trusted all season long and carried out a variety of roles for the team.
“He's someone who can have big impact to a team,” Heckingbottom told the Lancashire Post after the final day. “He gets the game, he's tactically good, he's bright. He might not talk to anyone until they talk to him about football; then he's engaged.
“He's a football fan, he understands it... from a coach's point of view it's good. He's willing to do the work without the ball. He's learning more about himself and he's managed himself, in games, to stay integrated - it can't just be when you're on the ball. So yeah, I think he's made big improvements and I think he'll improve again.”