Preston North End fans may have to prepare for the inevitable next season when it comes to loan star Daniel Iversen.

The towering Dane has been at Deepdale for well over a year now after first joining from Leicester City in January 2021, with his shot-stopping abilities really grabbing the headlines in particular.

Whilst Lilywhites manager Ryan Lowe has admitted he is trying to secure Iversen for next season and potentially beyond, the 24-year-old is on a long-term contract at the Foxes until 2025 and he could be the natural successor to fellow Dane Kasper Schmeichel.

 

 

 

 

With that in mind, let's look at three goalkeepers North End could turn towards this summer in the event that Iversen does not return.

Gavin Bazunu

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Qatar v Ireland - Nagyerdei Stadion, Debrecen, Hungary - March 30, 2021 Ireland's Gavin Bazunu during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Qatar v Ireland - Nagyerdei Stadion, Debrecen, Hungary - March 30, 2021 Ireland's Gavin Bazunu during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

North End's recent success with Premier League loan goalkeepers is second to none, with Jordan Pickford, Sam Johnstone and now Iversen all spending time at Deepdale.

Pickford and Johnstone of course went on to become England internationals, however there is one young stopper at a Premier League club who is already capped internationally for the Republic of Ireland in Bazunu who is doing exciting things in League One at Portsmouth.

The Manchester City man already has 10 caps for his country at the age of 20 and averages 2.73 saves per game in League One this season (per Wyscout) as well as 13.22 short passes per game, which means he would fit in well with a playing out from the back system.

City will naturally want Bazunu to progress up the pyramid and with North End being a nearby club to Manchester, it seems to be a perfect destination.

Toby Savin

Soccer Football - League One - Portsmouth v Accrington Stanley - Fratton Park, Portsmouth, Britain - May 9, 2021 Accrington Stanley's Toby Savin saves from Portsmouth's John Marquis Action Images/Andrew Boyers EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representati
Soccer Football - League One - Portsmouth v Accrington Stanley - Fratton Park, Portsmouth, Britain - May 9, 2021 Accrington Stanley's Toby Savin saves from Portsmouth's John Marquis Action Images/Andrew Boyers EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Another goalkeeper plying his trade close to PNE is Savin, who dons the gloves for Accrington Stanley in League One.

The 20-year-old spent time at the academies of Wigan, Everton and Crewe before landing at Stanley in 2017, and he was thrown in at the deep end by John Coleman last season, making 31 league appearances.

After a battle with Man City loanee James Trafford for the starting jersey in the first half of the season, Trafford departed in January to make a switch to Bolton, leaving Savin in the clear to start for the remainder of the campaign.

Tottenham were linked with a transfer swoop in January and whilst it may be hard to compete with Premier League teams, North End have locality and also the guarantee of first-team football - however it would probably require a decent transfer fee to prize him from Accy.

Jamie Cumming

Soccer Football - FA Cup - Third Round - Chelsea v Nottingham Forest - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - January 5, 2020 Chelsea's Jamie Cumming during the warm up before the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Another young Premier League talent like Bazunu, Cumming is two years older than the two aforementioned stoppers at 22 years old but he has an excellent pedigree, having come through the Chelsea academy.

Cumming has EFL experience with Stevenage, Gillingham and currently MK Dons, where he's in an ongoing promotion push in League One.

Naturally the next step for him would be a move into the Championship - that could be permanently or on another loan - Cumming though does only have one year left on his deal at Stamford Bridge so he may want to think about his long-term future.

PNE could give him that first-team football and also he has more of a chance of making it at Deepdale than at the current European champions - he is one that should be on the shortlist.