It is around 10 years since David Nugent was in full flight at Deepdale. Peer Ridsdale annoucned at recent fans forum that Preston enquired about a loan deal to Middlebrough during the summer but this was turned down.
It was apparent that the Teeside club were looking to sell Nugent in he January transfer window with Preston one of a number of cubs linked with the striker.
It is unclear if Preston ever made a formal approach but the fee of £2.5m paid is well out of Preston's price range and significantly in excess of Preston's record fee paid.
Preston are short of a striker which would take them towards the upper end of the table. It is a case of risk and reward for the club which has been risk averse over the years when gambling on paying a transfer fee to potentially secure promotion.
As long as Preston maintain their current transfer strategy then they will be searching for brgain basement players hoping that they can pick up a young gem along the way.