Preston North End are set for a bit of a rebuild this coming summer as Ryan Lowe looks to mould the squad he sees fit to challenge for promotion in the Championship next season.

Lowe arrived at the Lilywhites in December to replace Frankie McAvoy in the dugout, but after a promising start which saw PNE lose just one of their first 11 matches with Lowe in charge, a play-off push soon faded.

This summer is a critical one for PNE though, with a plethora of players out of contract and who will most likely move on from Deepdale for pastures new.

There is plenty of work to be done by Lowe and his team when it comes to transfer dealings both in and out of North End this summer, and he will be looking to get the majority of it done sooner rather than later when the current campaign is over.

Let's look at seven deals that could be done as soon as June at North End.

Most North End fans have come to terms with the fact that Daniel Iversen is probably not returning to Deepdale next season following his incredible performances.

Iversen could very well get a chance at his parent club Leicester City in pre-season, but also he could end up at a top flight club in another country or perhaps a Championship rival of PNE's.

A new goalkeeper is imperative for PNE though as they will have no senior stopper going into pre-season thanks to Declan Rudd's recent retirement and both Connor Ripley and Matt Hudson out of contract and unlikely to return.

Barkhuizen's five-and-a-half year stint looks set to come to an end at the conclusion of the current campaign.

Contract talks were said to have happened in November, but with no agreement reached and Barkhuizen spending much of the season injured, the writing looks to be on the wall.

He always gave his all effort-wise for PNE, but Ryan Lowe just hasn't had a chance to have a real look at him, which makes an exit inevitable.

There are a number of positions that need to be filled very quickly before pre-season begins - one of them being left wing-back.

Lowe has never seemingly been convinced by Josh Earl and Greg Cunningham's fitness record is always one of concern - the Irishman isn't getting any younger either.

It would be no surprise to see a younger, speedy wing-back in at Deepdale to become the first-choice under Lowe - who that is remains to be seen.

Even though some will still hold out that he can make an impact at North End, it would be a real shock if Harrop was still a PNE player following the summer transfer window.

After just one substitute appearance under Lowe, the ex-Manchester United midfielder was sent on loan to League One side Fleetwood Town for the second half of the campaign but he barely made an impact at the Cod Army.

With a year left on his contract at Deepdale, it looks like there's no way back for Harrop - expect him to be shopped about early in the window to find him a new club.

A left wing-back is needed and the same can be said for the opposite side of the pitch.

Brad Potts has filled in pretty well for Lowe since his arrival as a right-sided wing-back, but it would appear the midfielder is merely a placeholder.

Lowe will be looking for a speedier wing-back who has more of a cutting edge when it comes to goal contributions, however Potts will be expected to make contributions throughout the season as he's more-than been an asset at times in an unnatural position.

Another player seemingly heading for the exit door is Sinclair.

There was a lot of fan-fare surrounding his arrival in January 2020 after his successful spell with Celtic, but Sinclair has never lived up to the expectations at Deepdale, despite being the club's top goalscorer last season.

Having featured just 11 times in the Championship under Lowe - mainly from the bench - Sinclair's days at PNE are numbered with his contract set to end.

North End have seemingly solved some of their striker issues with Emil Riis finding his goalscoring touch this season with an 18-goal haul.

Lowe would love to get Cameron Archer back on loan from Aston Villa, however Steven Gerrard wants to look at him in pre-season and if there's any chance of a deal to be done, then it will be late in the transfer window.

Therefore it could be wise for PNE to look at other targets and to get one in earlier in the transfer window to partner Riis, as Sean Maguire looks to be past his best and Ched Evans is not a goalscorer.