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Ex-PNE, Fulham and Spurs man on the search for a new club

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Preston North End’s arch-rivals Blackpool have released former Lilywhites midfielder Josh Onomah.

The 28-year-old joined the League One club in October 2024 after a trial period. He spent the entire 2023/24 season as a free agent, having been unable to sort fresh terms at PNE in the summer. Onomah, whom Stoke City had looked at, then reunited with ex-boss Steve Bruce at Bloomfield Road.

In total he made 18 appearances for the Seasiders, scoring one goal and assisting another. That is five more games than Onomah managed for North End. The Deepdale club brought him in on a short-term deal in January 2023, after the midfielder left Fulham.

Reflecting on his stint on the Fylde Coast, reporter Amos Wynn said: ‘Onomah’s time in Tangerine didn’t really get going. Clearly, his lengthy period without a club prior to joining Blackpool had taken its toll. The attacking midfielder never looked fit, and didn’t seem to have a natural place in Bruce’s team.

‘It was a risk worth taking to sign him on a free given his talent, but the gamble didn’t bring any rewards and now it’s rightly time to move on. His talent was there to see in some instances, including Shrewsbury away; unfortunately the sample size is far too small.’

Onomah is one of 12 players to be let go by Blackpool. Other notable names include Jordan Rhodes, Oliver Norburn, Jordan Gabriel and Richard O’Donnell. Also released is young defender Tyler Hill, who is the son of former PNE defender Matt.

Your next PNE read: Former Preston North End goalkeeper leaves club

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The PNE forward was linked with Liverpool and Man United a couple of years ago

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Preston North End have not received any approach or contact from another club regarding young striker Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile.

This week, transfer speculation emerged regarding potential interest from Premier League trio Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest. But, it’s understood that nothing has developed on the transfer front - despite claims of the player impressing scouts.

Rodriguez-Gentile is only in the second year of his scholarship, having first grabbed the headlines back in December 2022 - when he scored five goals in the 6-1 FA Youth Cup rout of Rotherham United. Later that season, links to Liverpool and Manchester United surfaced.

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Just shy of one year later, he signed his first professional contract with PNE, until 2026. Last year, he also earned a call-up to the Argentina Under-17 squad for the first time. Rodriguez-Gentile was in and around the North End first team during pre-season.

But, since the arrival of Paul Heckingbottom as manager, he has tended to stay with the academy - while getting minutes under his belt for the reserve XI. North End recently knocked Liverpool out of the FA Youth Cup - 4-1 - and Rodriguez-Gentile grabbed a goal and assist on the night.

Preston North End host Arsenal in the Carabao Cup fourth round tonight

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup will take place on Wednesday night.

Following Sky Sports’ coverage of Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City, the draw will be hosted by Mark Chapman - then conducted by Jamie Redknapp and Izzy Christiansen. The two teams already in the hat, before Wednesday’s ties, are Southampton and Brentford.

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The Saints beat Stoke City 3-2 at St Mary’s, on Tuesday night, while the Bees triumphed on penalties against Sheffield Wednesday, at home. Brighton versus Liverpool gets under way at 19:30, while Spurs kick-off against Pep Guardiola’s side at 20:15.

All other ties start at 19:45, with Preston North End’s bumper clash with Arsenal available to watch on Sky Sports+. Aston Villa host Crystal Palace, Chelsea head to Newcastle United and it’s Manchester United against Leicester City, at Old Trafford. Quarter-Final ties will take place on the week commencing December 17.

Ball numbers for the quarter-final draw

Republic of Ireland forward spent the 2022/23 season on loan at PNE

One former Preston North End player had a Saturday to remember, over in the Netherlands.

Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar destroyed Heerenveen 9-1 at home, with ex-PNE loan man Troy Parrott scoring, not one, not two, not three, but four goals. The Republic of Ireland international left Tottenham Hotspur permanently in the summer, for a fee reportedly in the region of £6million. Parrott spent the 2023/24 campaign at Excelsior Rotterdam, on loan.

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And, a move back to the Netherlands materialised in July. Parrott did not score in the first four matches of the season, with three wins and one draw picked up. But, the 22-year-old got himself up and running at the AFAS Stadion last weekend. He fired AZ back into the lead in the first half, and had goals two, three and four, just 11 minutes after the restart. Parrott was serenaded by the fans post-match.

After the game, he told ESPN: “Obviously, for me as a striker, it's disappointing not to score in the previous games because I always want to score goals. But I don't stress over these things, it's normal, this is football you can't play every game perfect.

“I understand this and I believe in my own ability. I believe the team that we've got here is a really good team and we will create chances - and tonight that happened and I was there. I didn't know this, but it's a beautiful thing. To do this in front of all the fans here in our home stadium, it's a beautiful thing.”

In other news regarding former PNE loan forwards, Stephy Mavididi scored his first Premier League goal on Saturday afternoon. The 26-year-old had a ten game loan spell at Deepdale in 2017/18. He went on to play for Juventus, Dijon and Montpellier, before joining Leicester City in the summer of 2023.

Some ex-PNE players are yet to sign for new clubs this season

Josh Harrop

The midfielder just hasn’t managed to settle at a club, since his departure from Preston North End in September 2022. He earned a short-term contract with Northampton Town in December, but was let go in the summer after making a couple of appearances - his stint at Sixfields blighted by injury. Harrop then secured a move to League One outfit Cheltenham Town, in January 2024. However, the 28-year-old was not kept on at the end of the season - after the club’s relegation to League Two.

Josh Onomah

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It’s more than a year since Onomah played a competitive game, with the ex-Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham man having failed to agree a new contract at Preston - in the summer of 2023. North End were keen to keep him on board, but an agreement could not be reached. There were links to Bolton Wanderers midway through last season, but nothing ever came of those. Onomah has been training with PNE’s arch-rivals, Blackpool - who have just appointed Steve Bruce as manager. The midfielder has played under Bruce twice before, at Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa.

Paul Huntington

The experienced defender has been training at the PFA’s pre-season camp, after leaving hometown club Carlisle United. Huntington had an up-and-down time at Brunton Park, with promotion from League Two followed by relegation from League One - with the Blues finishing bottom of the table. The 36-year-old, in an interview earlier this summer, made it clear his intention was not to retire yet. However, he assured he was in no rush to make a decision.

Matty James

The midfielder was a hit, on loan at Preston North End, back in 2010. He has gone on to have a solid career, playing in both the Premier League and Championship. James departed Bristol City this summer, after making 115 appearances in his three seasons at Ashton Gate. Now, Coventry City are reportedly considering a return for the player - who spent time on loan with the Sky Blues in 2020/21. James kept himself fit over the summer, training with old club Leicester City.

Adam Reach

The versatile winger is on the lookout for a new club, after leaving West Brom. He spent three seasons at The Hawthorns, making the move to Albion from Sheffield Wednesday - who paid £5million to sign him from Middlesbrough, back in 2016. Reach was with the Owls for five years, and in total he has just shy of 400 Championship appearances to his name. The 31-year-old, who was on loan at PNE in 2015/16, was said to be interesting several second tier clubs towards the end of the summer transfer window.

A midfielder that last played for Preston North End is being offered a route back into football after a year out.

Former Preston North End midfielder Josh Onomah is on trial at Lancashire rivals Blackpool.

According to Football Insider, Onomah is on trial with the League One outfit. They are looking to add to their midfield options after loan star Karamoko Dembele returned to his parent club Stade Brestois.

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Onomah spent the entirety of the 2023/24 season without a club, despite having a trial period with Stoke City. He was linked with a move to Bolton Wanderers but a move failed to materialise, and now despite rumoured interest from the Championship, he is now training with the Seasiders in the hope of making a return.

His last game of competitive football came for North End on May 8, 2023. He played 34 minutes as North End lost 3-0 to Sunderland on the final day of the 2022/23 Championship season. Despite 444 days passing since his last match, Onomah has been keeping himself fit in preparation of his next club, and now a return to Lancashire could be on the cards.

The 27-year-old was only a player at Deepdale for three months after joining on a free transfer from Fulham. He appeared 13 times for the Lilywhites, which was split between nine substitute appearances and four starts. Onomah was offered a new deal by PNE last summer but talks stalled, and the deal was later taken off the table by Ryan Lowe, who wanted the player signed quickly.

Fulham is where Onomah was most successful. He was part of the Cottagers team that won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2020. Onomah played 76 times in total for the West London side, with eight assists and five goals. The other clubs in his career include Aston Villa, Spurs and also Sheffield Wednesday.

Both strikers spent the 2022/23 season at Deepdale

Former Preston North End loan strikers Liam Delap and Troy Parrott have been sold for a combined £21million.

Both players spent the 2022/23 campaign at Deepdale, with Parrott joining from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer and Delap arriving from Manchester City in the January. Last season, the latter was loaned out to Eredivisie outfit Excelsior Rotterdam - while Delap had a third loan spell in the Championship, with Hull City.

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And, this weekend, the pair both left their parent clubs permanently. Parrott has headed back to the Netherlands, in a reported £6.7m move to AZ Alkmaar. Spurs have inserted a 20 per cent sell-on clause in the deal, with the Republic of Ireland international signing a five-year contract at AFAS Stadion. Last season, Parrott scored 17 goals for the relegated Dutch club.

As for Delap, the 21-year-old will be plying his trade in the Premier League next season - after signing for newly promoted Ipswich Town. The Tractor Boys, according to reports, have paid an initial £15m for the front man - with an additional £5m in potential add-ons. Southampton are said to have agreed a deal for Delap too, but Portman Road was his chosen destination.

He has also put pen-to-paper on a contract until 2029. The England -U21 international scored eight goals in 32 appearances for the Tigers, last season. Delap spent the first half of the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Stoke, before making the switch to PNE - for whom he netted once in 15 outings. Parrott found the net four times in 34 appearances.

On his move to AZ, the Irishman said: "I think AZ is the perfect club for me to take the next steps in my development. It helps me that I already played in the Netherlands last season and am therefore used to the competition and life here."

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Meanwhile, Delap said: "The manager here likes to play exciting football. It's quick and intense and I am looking forward to that. I want to bring goals and assists and I'll work as hard as I can to help the team."