In the summer Preston did wish to sign Johnstone after securing promotion back to the Championship. A figure of £1 million was mooted but due to the United keeping situation nothing came to fruition.
Once United resolved the De gea situation Johnstone was allowed to go out on loan but turned down a move to Fulham instead waiting for the January window when North End made a 28 day loan signing for the keeper.
Grayson was also monitoring whether Pickford might be made available by Sunderland but this now appears to be dead int he water with Pickford starting in the Sunderland first team at the weekend.
Preston need to sign a permanent keeper but it appears that QPR have made a bid of £1 million to take the keeper on a permanent basis. North End may look to enter into negotiations to try and secure the long term future of Johnstone before the end of his loan period.