Preston North End's turnaround this season has been nothing short of remarkable.

After just one win in their opening eleven league games of the season, the pressure was well and truly on for Alex Neil, who came under major scrutiny at the start of the campaign.

A magnificent unbeaten run then followed, and as we enter the second half of the 2018-19 EFL campaign, North End will be looking to keep firing up the Sky Bet Championship table.

It's Christmas time - a time for giving and receiving, and this is no different for football clubs up and down the country, especially for Preston. The Lilywhites will be looking to get rid of the deadwood and bring in fresh faces that will help in guiding them up the league standings.

With that being said, here, we take a look at TWO early signings Preston need to complete, with just a week to go until the January transfer window...

Tom Eaves has been in incredible form for Gillingham this season and is one of the leading goalscorers in League One.

Having found the net so many times this season for what is a struggling Gills side in League One, Neil has already declared an interest in the towering 26-year-old forward.

With North End top goalscorer Callum Robinson still out of action with injury, the addition of another goalscorer in January certainly wouldn't go amiss.

With Aston Villa recently signing Lovre Kalinic, it seems as if they are no longer interested in signing reported transfer target Tom Heaton.

The 31-year-old has been frozen out at Burnley and has fallen behind Nick Pope and Joe Hart in the pecking order at Turf Moor, and looks likely to leave in January.

Having already been linked with the player, Neil simply needs to get this one done.