Football
Exclusive: Preston Line Up Move for Andre Brooks if Ruben Selles Shuts the Door at Sheffield United
Preston North End could offer Sheffield United's Andre Brooks an escape route as he may be surplus to requirements under new manager Ruben Selles. If Brooks needs more playing time, a loan deal with North End could be considered. Aged 21, Brooks impressed last season and would find North End an attractive destination with former United manager Paul Heckingbottom at the helm.
Newcastle United v Sheffield United - Premier League by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA | Getty Images
Preston North End are set to offer wing wizard Andre Brooks an escape route from Bramall Lane next season if he proves surplus to requirements following Ruben Selles’ appointment as manager, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
Like the rest of The Blades’ first team squad, Brooks is using a first team training camp in Spain to try and impress the former Hull City chief ahead of the new Championship campaign.
Brooks appears to have been handed the club’s number 11 shirt — previously worn by Jesurun Rak-Sakyi — if the club’s media imagery is anything to go by, potentially indicating that Selles has immediate plans for the youngster.
However, if Selles chooses a different direction and Brooks begins to fear limited opportunities, Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom has already expressed interest in a loan move and is hopeful a deal can be struck.
Heckingbottom, who steered United to promotion from the Championship before being replaced by Chris Wilder just over a year-and-a-half ago, is a huge fan of Brooks after working with him at Bramall Lane.
ATTRACTIVE DESINATION
With Stuart McCall also making the journey to Deepdale with him following a stint on The Blades’ coaching staff, Heckingbottom’s presence would make North End an attractive destination for Brooks if he is forced to look at a temporary move elsewhere.
Aged 21, Brooks progressed through United’s academy before making his first team debut for his home town club.
He featured 25 times last term, scoring four goals and providing two assists, as Wilder steered his side to third in the table and the play-off final – where they were beaten in dramatic circumstances by Sunderland.
Wilder subsequently left The Blades after their new owners, an American based consortium, decided to rely largely on AI to identify recruitment targets.
Selles, previously of City, replaced him after impressing with his vision for the future.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.