Lancashire Evening Post

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."

A new club for the ex-PNE, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder

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Former Preston North End midfielder Josh Onomah has signed for FC Dinamo Tbilisi.

Having been without a club for the past nine months, the 28-year-old has put pen-to-paper on a one-year deal, with option for a further 12 months. Onomah left PNE’s arch-rivals, Blackpool, last summer and had been on the search for a new club since.

The Georgian club’s Erovnuli Liga campaign started on March 7, with three matches played. For ex-Aston Villa and Fulham man, Onomah, it represents his next opportunity after a challenging few years.

Preston snapped the former England youth international up, on a free transfer in January 2023. He played 13 games in the Championship for PNE but, after his short-term deal expired, fresh terms could not be agreed in the summer.

At the time, manager Ryan Lowe said: “We offered Josh a contract about a week before the season finished and we were in negotiations with Josh and his representatives. Josh’s contract terms were agreed, but there’s been a lot of complications with the deal regarding if and when he could sign, which was out of our control.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had to move on to other targets because we just couldn’t wait any longer. We wish Josh all the best and hopefully he gets back playing somewhere because he’s a talented boy. We just couldn’t wait any longer in what was a difficult situation.”

Onomah went on trial to Stoke City but did not land a contract there, but sealed a move to the Seasiders in October 2024 - a move which saw him reunited with old Sheffield Wednesday boss, Steve Bruce.

In between the player’s exit from Preston and switch to Bloomfield Road was 18 months as a free agent. He played 18 games for Blackpool across all competitions, with injuries hindering his time on the Fylde coast.

Alfie Devine and Milutin Osmajic were on the score sheet at Deepdale

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Preston North End came from behind to beat Stoke City 3-1 on Friday night.

Here are our player ratings from Deepdale.

Daniel Iversen: Beaten by power for the Stoke goal - a difficult one for him to stop. Didn’t have a great deal to do after that. 6

Jordan Storey: A bit of nervousness in the opening exchanges but kept his head up and did fine over the piece. 7

Liam Lindsay: Grew into the contest against his old club. Some important interventions both aerially and on the ground. Headed over from a first half corner. 7.5

Andrew Hughes: Solid shift from the Welshman. Won some big tackles and blocked a dangerous shot at three-one. 7

Pol Valentin: Lost Thomas for his goal. Recovered from that and put plenty of work in, up and down the right flank. 6

Andrija Vukcevic: Full of commitment for his hour or so. Couldn’t stop the cross for the opener but improved from there. Vital block at one apiece. 6.5

Ben Whiteman: Just a booking for a late first half tackle. Managed the match well from there and played some smart forward passes. 7

Alfie Devine: Dropped into a slightly deeper role and had an excellent game. Took his second goal exquisitely. A mature, industrious performance. 8.5

Andrew Moran: Another encouraging performance. Assisted PNE’s first goal. Buzzed around and worked incredibly hard out of possession. 7.5

Lewis Dobbin: A couple of loose moments in poor areas but he was a threat. Improved as the game wore on and assisted the second goal with a lovely cross. 7

Milutin Osmajic: Strong performance. Led the line impressively, backing in and linking play up effectively. Headed PNE in front and then assisted the third goal. 8

Thierry Small: Introduced for the final half-an-hour and stuck to his task. 6

Brad Potts: Slotted in and did what was required. One forward run and cut back for Dobbin, which he placed over. 6

Daniel Jebbison: Came on for the final 20 minutes or so and added freshness. 6

Odel Offiah: A late substitute and helped see the points home. One error in a bad area but got away with it. 6

Michael Smith: Got the ball a handful of times and looked after it. 6

Preston North End predicted XI vs Millwall as loan star returns  Lancashire Evening Post

The Spurs man is enjoying a successful loan spell at Deepdale

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Preston North End loan star Alfie Devine is very much focused on the present.

The 21-year-old is one of the latest loan signings to catch the eye at Deepdale. Devine has been a regular in Paul Heckingbottom’s side all season, scoring six goals with a further two assisted. Devine’s latest strike clinched a much needed victory at home to Portsmouth.

North End supporters have watched their fair share of Premier League players enjoy their temporary stays at the club, over recent seasons. Devine is slightly different to the rest, in the fact PNE have inserted a buy-option - albeit expensive - into his loan agreement. As far as he’s concerned, it’s all about the here and now.

“Not necessarily, no,” Devine told the Lancashire Post, when asked if his mind ever goes beyond what will happen this season. “I know there's the buy option in there and stuff like that. I think that all gets sorted after the season. Throughout the season, it's just about focusing on what's happening right now.”

On his enjoyment of the loan, Devine told BBC Lancashire. “I think every single time I speak to the media, or to whoever, I express how much I love it here. From day one until now, you can tell when you've got a good feeling in and around the place.

“You're looking forward to going in every day, and then when it gets to Saturday, Tuesday, whenever the game is, that sort of shows on the pitch. I think that's the same with everyone that we've brought in this season as well.”

Spurs loan star believes

North End endured a rocky January with four straight defeats, without scoring, suffered across all competitions. A solid away point - very nearly three - at high flying Ipswich Town gave Preston a boost going into last weekend’s win over Pompey. Devine has always felt this season could be a memorable one for the Lilywhites.

“Yeah, definitely,” said Devine. “With the squad we’ve had all season, and even the three boys that we brought in in January, you can see how strong our squad is. Players, staff, everyone at the club believes that we're capable of going and achieving what we want to achieve this season.”

“I think that (recent transfer business) sort of shows what people think of the squad this season, that there's a real chance of achieving what we want to do. The boys we brought in as well, it's a massive help to us. Obviously, we hadn’t scored in I don't know how many games, but bringing three players at the top of the pitch really helps that.”

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