Lancashire Evening Post

The Tottenham Hotspur man had a successful loan spell at Deepdale last season

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Preston North End have activated their option-to-buy Alfie Devine and now face crunch talks with the player, the Lancashire Post understands.

The midfielder spent last season on loan with the Lilywhites and had a strong individual campaign, scoring eight goals and assisting as many, across 48 appearances. PNE inserted a buy-option in the loan agreement with Spurs, and personal terms were said to have been pre-agreed.

The fee is thought to be in excess of £5million. North End plan to spread their payments but it would still see the club more than double its transfer record. However, Devine still has the final say on any move this summer and while discussions are scheduled for next week, he is under no pressure to rush into a decision.

Relegated Wolves have been credited with interest in the 21-year-old - as have Scottish Premiership champions, Celtic. Devine is believed to have more suitors - including others in the second tier - but no offers on the table at this stage. PNE boss Paul Heckingbottom stressed that the club must try to bring last season’s loan stars back if possible.

He was strong on Devine, simply replying, ‘Yeah’, when asked if he expects North End to do all they can to sign him. The former Plymouth Argyle loanee caught Heckingbottom’s eye while playing on loan in Belgium two seasons ago, for Westerlo, and he has made his belief in the player crystal clear.

When asked about his future, Devine said towards the end of the season: “I know that I will be pushing for the thing that will be the best for me and what I want for myself, not what other people will want for me. I will be sure to pick something that is right for me and if that takes time, then it takes time.”

The Premier League season concludes on Sunday

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Tottenham Hotspur’s fight for Premier League survival will be closely followed by Preston North End supporters.

The Lilywhites have an option-to-buy Alfie Devine from Spurs this summer, for a fee in the region of £4.5million. That would see PNE double their transfer record but reports have suggested that North End hope to agree a payment plan and deal with Tottenham.

Relegated Wolves are thought to be keen on Devine while Celtic have also been mentioned as possible suitors. Preston have the option inserted and personal terms have been agreed as well, but the player will still have the final say on any move.

And Spurs being relegated could deal a huge blow to any hopes, though they do go into the final day out of the drop zone. One of Tottenham (38pts) or West Ham (36pts) will fall into the Championship on Sunday.

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Spurs host Everton while West Ham host Leeds. Lilywhites boss Paul Heckingbottom has put pressure on PNE to try and bring their loan stars back next season, with him expecting the club to do all they can to sign Devine.

The midfielder was a mainstay in the side and only spoke highly of his time at Deepdale, while highlighting the benefit of being close to home again. The 21-year-old assured he will be at the forefront of any decision this summer.

“What next season will look like, I cannot really tell you,” he said last month. “But I know that I will be pushing for the thing that will be the best for me and what I want for myself, not what other people will want for me.

“There is obviously the buy option in the loan and stuff. It is hard to say whether that will happen because in football things change so fast. I will be sure to pick something that is right for me and if that takes time, then it takes time.”

PNE finished 14th in the Championship

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Former Preston North End goalkeeper Alan Kelly Jnr would not hesitate about spending a significant sum on Alfie Devine.

The future of the Tottenham Hotspur man will be a key focus over the summer, following his excellent loan spell at Deepdale. PNE have an option-to-buy the midfielder for a fee thought to be in the region of £4.5million.

While personal terms and the structure of a deal are already agreed, Devine will still have the final say on his future. But, if Preston can afford the transfer fee then Kelly Jnr views it as a no brainer given his talent and influence on the side.

“Yeah, it depends how you look at it,” he told the Lancashire Post. “If you look at the squad as a whole, some experienced lads in there, the sprinkling of youth. But then you look at Devine and you look at game changers... you look at what he can bring to you.

“One, as the manager. Two, as a club to excite the fans. Three, publicly, in terms of looking to compete. I'm only going off what I read, maybe £4million... would you put your whole budget on Devine? That's the question that everybody asks.

“For me, I would. For what he brings to the side and what he's shown, I think he started 36 games but played 43. So, he was one of the major, key players of last season and one of the major players in that first half of the season. What you're saying is, ‘I put trust in you, we want to build around you’.

“I think Paul's probably on about that process of building a team that is ours, and we're not saying, ‘Thank you very much for loaning us a player’. It's like anything, if you don't get the foundations right and then it starts to crumble, everything falls down.”

Jebbison reunion?

Manager Paul Heckingbottom said towards the end of the season that he’d like to try and bring all loan players back. While Lewis Dobbin will probably prove out of reach given the attacking numbers he produced, Jebbison may be a more realistic target. He had a mixed season but his relationship with Heckingbottom is strong, while fans took to the number nine. Kelly Jnr feels there is clear potential with the Canadian.

“Yeah, again I would show him after every game, every clip of what he's done well and say, ‘In this situation, this is what I want from you.” said Kelly Jnr. “Obviously, Paul is telling him that because he chipped in.

“You look at Dobbin, Jebbison, Devine, pretty much that's your goal tally all from loan players. That's what the worry would be for every fan now, that if you lose those three loan players you're taking out a massive goal/assist base from your team.

“But I think Jebbison is maturing and within that, he's still learning the game. I think he's got to work out what works for him. He's got his physicality, he's got his size, he's got his speed. I think his finishing can be better at times. Towards the back of the season, I think he had a couple of headers that went wide at critical times.

“But, he was in the right place. There's the relationship with the manager, who feels he can get the best out of him. So yeah, nobody knows what's going to happen with Osmajic; he only had 20 starts this season. But, he's coming from a Premier League team and what's that going to cost?”

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.”

The pair had excellent loan spells from Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur

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“Yeah.” - That was Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom’s response to two questions after the final day defeat to Southampton.

The first, from BBC Radio Lancashire, was: ‘The loan signings that you've had this year have been popular and done well for you. Is there a realistic chance that Preston could retain any of those next year, either on loan or as a permanent transfer?’

When asked a follow-up question as to whether he feels confident that might happen, Heckingbottom nodded and uttered a ‘mm-hmm’ noise to suggest yes once again.

Clearly, given their efforts across the 2025/26 season, Alfie Devine and Lewis Dobbin are the two stand out names, but Heckingbottom has also implied he’d be keen to reunite with AFC Bournemouth striker Daniel Jebbison.

As for Devine, it was a question around him which brought about the second reply of, ‘Yeah’. That was: ‘With Alfie, you've got the buy option so that feels a bit more realistic. Are you expecting the club to try everything they can to do that?’

On the loan man, Heckingbottom added: “He's a good lad. He's done well, he's improved, he's growing up - similar to Dobbo, similar to Jebbo. I can see why (he’s so popular). We want good players and I think there's more to come from him, definitely.”

There is no buy-option inserted in Dobbin’s agreement and the Aston Villa man’s messaging in recent weeks has suggested a return is unlikely, despite how much he has enjoyed his time at Deepdale - particularly as a team mate of Devine.

The forward was bought for £9million in June 2024 - albeit as part of a PSR-led deal involving Villa and Everton. Given his attacking output this year, though - 11 goals and eight assists - does Heckingbottom think a deal may be unrealistic for Preston?

“It depends,” said the PNE boss. “You're asking me today, no one's come in with any money for him today. Likewise, no one's made an offer to Villa yet. But would I keep him? 100 per cent. Can we? Not right now, no.”

Jebbison didn’t hit the heights of Devine and Dobbin in terms of numbers, but had a season of the most consistent game time yet. The player-coach relationship is strong given their past at Sheffield United and the Canadian chipped in with six goals.

On whether he will ask the question again this summer, Heckingbottom said: “Yeah, listen I'll ask about every single player out there. We're looking at everyone but it depends what we've got to play with.”

The pair enjoyed excellent loan spells at PNE

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Preston North End loan duo Lewis Dobbin and Alfie Devine have both taken to social media after their spells concluded.

The pair both played the final game of their season-long loans on Saturday, with Dobbin scoring and playing 90 minutes while Devine made way - due to illness - around the hour. Post-match, Devine was crowned Young Player of the Year and the pair took part in the lap of honour with the rest of the squad.

In the week, Dobbin and Devine headed to Deepdale tofilm a feature on their seasons at PNE - both of which have been a huge success. Across all competitions, Dobbin scored 11 goals and assisted eight while Devine netted eight and assisted the same number. Devine racked up 48 appearances and Dobbin managed 41.

Posting on Instagram, Aston Villa man Dobbin wrote: ‘To everybody associated @pnefcofficial thank you. This season has been a rollercoaster and I’ve loved the ride. So much growth, fun and learning. Thank you for your incredible support throughout, I will never forget it. Good luck for the future, you deserve the very best! LD’

Meanwhile, Devine said: ‘Can’t thank this club enough for this season. Support from start to finish has been brilliant and so grateful to have been part of it. Thank you @pnefcofficial’.

On top of their clear relationship on the pitch, the pair’s friendship has been well documented - it was a big reason for filming the aforementioned video. All season long they have commented on each other’s social media posts and there was clearly some emotion upon their loans coming to an end.

Dobbin commented: ‘A serious player and even better person. A honour to play alongside and share a dressing room with. See ya on EAFC 27.’

Meanwhile, Devine wrote on Dobbin’s: ‘Dear Lewis, this one is the last and most emotional one. It’s been an absolute pleasure to share the pitch with you, something I’ll never take for granted. You have been a credit to yourself and your family this season and what a season it’s been for you. Wish you all the best whatever happens. 🤍 ’

The end of season awards were presented after PNE’s clash against Southampton

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Preston North End goalkeeper Daniel Iversen has been crowned double Player of the Year winner.

The Lilywhites brought the Dane back to the club in the summer, this time on a permanent basis following two previous loan spells. Over the course of the campaign he made 36 league appearances and kept eight clean sheets. Iversen - who missed two months of the season through injury - won Fans’ POTY and Players’ POTY.

Awards were presented on the Deepdale pitch after the final game at home to Southampton. Alfie Devine won Young Player of the Year - the midfielder enjoyed an excellent loan spell from Tottenham Hotspur. PNE’s number 21 made 48 appearances across all competitions, scoring eight Championship goals and assisting seven.

Fellow loan star, Lewis Dobbin, won Community Player of the Year and PFA Champion. Thierry Small swooped Goal of the Year for his scintillating long-range strike, in the home victory over Swansea City. Scholar of the year went to young goalkeeper, Li-Bau Stowell.

PNE struck gold in the loan market once again this season

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Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom played the latest question over Alfie Devine’s future with a straight bat.

The Tottenham Hotspur man has had an excellent loan spell with the Lilywhites this year, scoring eight goals and assisting seven in the Championship. PNE, as well documented, have an expensive buy option inserted in the loan agreement.

Even if they were to trigger that, it would still need Devine to agree to the move. The midfielder put in another impressive performance in the penultimate game of the campaign, as PNE beat Sheffield United 3-2 on Saturday.

Talk around Devine has intensified given the reported takeover interest from US-born Saudi businessman, Amr Zedan. Heckingbottom was asked post-match at Bramall Lane whether Devine would be number one on the list, should the club get added investment.

“Listen, yeah, I want to keep them all,” said Heckingbottom. “I'm not going to speak about individuals because you'll quote me on that. I know information you don't and I know information I don't want to tell you, so I'll just play that one coy.”

Preston have had several loan stars over the last few years but retaining them has always been beyond reach. The PNE boss, a few times now, has emphasised the need to try and not lose all of them.

“They've all enjoyed it,” said Heckingbottom. “We worked really hard to get them in the summer. We were the ones who put ourselves forward. We were the ones who got the commitment. We were the ones who impressed them.

“We were the ones who worked really hard with them. We were the ones who made them better, pushed them. That's our job. Can we keep them, can we get the benefit from it? We'll always market ourselves and I'm willing to take other loan players.

“I've always done it, which is fine, so we'll do that again. The loan market's going to be big for us again next season, I know that. The work we do with those boys is a great advertisement for anyone else.”

The midfielder has had a strong season on loan at PNE from Spurs

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Alfie Devine will not be letting anyone else decide his future after his Preston North End loan spell concludes.

With four games left to play in the Championship, the midfielder’s spell at Deepdale is almost over. Devine has scored eight goals in 44 appearances across all competitions, with 32 league starts made and four assists provided.

It is his fourth loan spell away from Tottenham Hotspur, whom he joined from Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2020. Devine’s stint in Belgium last year, with Westerlo, caught PNE boss Paul Heckingbottom’s eye.

That faith has been rewarded by the 21-year-old, who has carried out a variety of roles for North End and made a big impact in the final third. Preston do have an expensive option-to-buy Devine this summer, thought to be in the £4.5million region.

Right now, it’s tough for the player to know what the immediate future holds but Devine will ensure he dictates the next step of his career. He didn’t want to rule out a return to PNE if the chance presented itself.

Speaking last week, around his future, Devine told BBC Lancashire: “I don't really spend that much time thinking about it, to be honest. I think, obviously, keeping an eye on (Tottenham’s’) results and everything to do with that.

“But while I'm here, I'm just focused on everything that's going on here and then I think football sort of takes care of itself. So, 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. I'll definitely make sure that the one I pick is obviously picked by myself.”

Devine added: ”Everyone's obviously different as footballers. I think the thing that I've noticed as a person in football, not a player, is that you have to always do what's best for you on the pitch, definitely. You never know what goes on in football. Stuff changes very quickly and it's just about taking your time.”

Precious time for Devine

The number 21, who hails from Warrington, says the loan has ‘been everything’ he wanted it to be. A huge bonus, personally, has been living 15 minutes away from his mum and dad, while being able to see so much more of his friends. That is something Devine hasn’t taken for granted but equally, he knows it may have to be given up again.

“Definitely,” said Devine. “It's not like an important factor but it worked out nice for me this time. Last year, going to Belgium and stuff like that, I wasn't thinking, ‘Oh, it's miles away from home’. I'm going there because I know what's right for my football at the time, in the position I was in. There was only the abroad market open, so that's the only place I could go and I wanted to go out on loan - everything is a football-based decision.”

He added: “I was in London at 15, 16 and would only come back home for summer for maybe a month, five weeks if that. Last year I was in Belgium where I could only see my mates in those eight, nine months about three, four times.

“I think it's the little things that people don't see; you miss out on birthdays, you miss out on family stuff, you miss out on all that stuff when you're away. When you're home you get to do all of that plus your football as well. I think that's what everyone wants. It's not a priority to be at home but when the two and two fell together then it was perfect.”

The Tottenham Hotspur man is having a productive loan spell at PNE

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Preston North End supporters, by now, are used to the pain of seeing loan stars leave at the end of the season. In the case of Alfie Devine, the midfielder would be one of the toughest to watch walk away and not return.

Signed on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur, the youngster immediately caught the eye - scoring in the second game of the season at home to Leicester City. He has gone on to net eight goals and assist three, across 41 appearances.

For Devine, it represents a significant year in his development. He had his first taste of the Championship, two seasons ago, with Plymouth. On the back of a year in the Belgian top flight, though, the midfielder has now established himself in the second tier.

On the back of a brace and stand out performance against Stoke City, last time out, the Spurs man hit the headlines once again. There has been strong trust in the player from manager Paul Heckingbottom, who discussed Devine post-match.

“Alfie's a good, good player,” said Heckingbottom, to BBC Lancashire. “A good lad. I don't think we've seen the best of him. As good as he plays, I think there's more to come - he needs pushing. But I think with that as well, we have to understand it’s the most amount of minutes he's played in this league.

“It's tough... you're a young boy, you have peaks and troughs. Where we need to get him is that consistency of performance because he's got the ability, he's got the brain, he's got the talent to affect games positively, every single time he's on the pitch.”

The intrigue around Devine’s future is heightened due to North End’s option-to-buy him this summer. The fee is thought to be in the region of £4.5million, with PNE CEO Peter Ridsdale stating that personal terms have already been agreed.

Clearly, the transfer fee makes a deal look challenging for North End, whose record buy as a club is £2m~. Preston have the option but it would still require Devine to accept the move. He would not be obliged to do so.

Undoubtedly, the player will have his suitors in the summer. Like with most loan players at Preston, Devine has only spoken highly of his time at the club and, back closer to home, seems genuinely happy.

And yet, his career is still very much in its infancy. Devine has made two appearances for the Spurs first team and isn’t giving up on making his mark there.

"Yeah, definitely," said Devine to Sky Sports. "When you're at a club, I think your dream is always to play for them. Every single time I go back that is something I strive to do and that is my ambition. But, sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't.

“So, if that means another loan or whatever, it just depends what comes with it. I think it's probably the same as the rest of the boys coming in on loan. You have to find your way to get rhythm going in playing and training and then see where that takes you."