Despite being tipped by very few to do so, it looks as though Preston North End have a strong chance of competing for promotion to the Premier League this season.

Going into the November international break, Alex Neil's side currently sit second in the Championship standings, and are still unbeaten at home in the league this season.

That, perhaps unsurprisingly, is something that appears to have caught the attention of a number of sides further up the football pyramid, with several of North End's player recently linked with moves away from the club when the transfer window reopens in January.

But while that may damaging to Preston's longer-term prospects from a footballing perspective, it would at least bring with it the benefit of bringing in plenty of funds courtesy of player sales, which could then be reinvested in other areas of the club.

Here, we take a look at five Preston players with the potential to make the club millions in the future.

Given he already has well over 200 appearances to his name, it is perhaps easy to forget that Browne is still only 24-years-old, meaning he still has plenty of time left in his career.

As a result, you feel it is possible that at some time sooner rather than later, other clubs will start to take an interest in the Irishman, especially when you consider the key role Browne - who has featured in every league game this season - has had in Preston's start to the campaign, and the international recognition he is now getting with the Republic of Ireland.

That influence is something that Preston are not going to want to lose easily however, meaning it may not be cheap for another club to prise him away from Deepdale.

It seems as though there is a chance that it will not be long until Preston are able to make some serious money out of Ben Davies.

Already this season, the impressive centre back has been linked with several Premier League clubs, with the likes of Brighton and Hove Albion, Newcastle United, Everton and Wolves all said to be interested in a move for the 24-year-old.

As things stand, it is thought that Brighton are leading the race for Davies' services, with the Seagulls credited with planning a £10million bid for the centre back, although the level of interest there appears to be here, means you wonder this could develop into something of a bidding war that proves even more profitable for Preston.

Another of the stars of Preston's impressive start to the season to reportedly be attracting interest from the Premier League is Ben Pearson.

According to reports that emerged earlier this month, Burnley are apparently considering a move for the combative midfielder, who has consistently been a dominant presence in the centre of the park for Preston since his arrival at Deepdale in 2016.

Preston therefore are not going to want to lose him cheaply, meaning that with his contract not set to expire until the summer of 2021, and a price tag of £10million previously being reported, it does seem as though there is the potential for North End to receive a decent fee for Pearson at some point in the future.

When you play for Manchester United as a youngster, and then score for them on a debut as a 21-year-old, just as Josh Harrop did on the final day of 2017 season, big things are always going to be expected of you.

Having followed his debut goal for United up with a move to Preston that same summer, Harrop does seem to be starting to catch the eye again, with his three goals in eight games in the current campaign already his best league season in terms of goals - albeit with last year severely hampered by injury.

If Harrop continues is able to pick that sort of form up following his latest injury layoff, and Preston continue their fine start to the season, then the attacker's clear potential may once again come into focus, which could lead to some possibly lucrative interest from elsewhere further down the line.

Admittedly, things haven't quite gone to plan for Tom Bayliss since his move to Preston from Coventry during the summer transfer window, but that doesn't mean that this couldn't prove to be a profitable signing for North End at some point in the future.

Having signed a four-year deal with Preston, there is still plenty of time for Bayliss to make an impact at Deepdale and attract interest from elsewhere in the footballing pyramid.

With Preston reportedly paying £2million for his services, they are unlikely to want to let him go for less than that, and with Aston Villa, Huddersfield and Derby among those to have also been credited with an interest in Bayliss in the summer, it could be argued that it is unlikely they will have to do that.