Preston have completed the signing of forward Lukas Nmecha on a season-long loan from Premier League champions Manchester City.

The England youth international is very highly-rated by Pep Guardiola but would obviously struggle to get any sort of game time this season.

Therefore, City were keen to loan the player out and he had been linked with a host of clubs, including Leeds, Aston Villa and Swansea, who were all very keen on the player.

However, North End have won the race for the 19-year old, confirming on their website that he has signed up for the campaign.

And, the player revealed that the Lilywhites boss was a big factor in his decision to go to Deepdale.

"Alex Neil has been a big part of my decision to sign. He is very passionate about the game and I am excited by the style of play that the club have been playing," he told the official site.

"This season we can go a long way. We play great football and I am here to add goals to the team. I am here to develop and give the club the best I can."

The Verdict

This is a superb signing for Preston, particularly after they lost Sean Maguire and Billy Bodin to bad injuries in recent weeks.

You only have to see the clubs interested in Nmecha to see how much of a coup this is for the Lancashire side and he will give them a real threat up top.

Now, it's down to the player to win a place in the team and show off his undoubted ability at a challenging level.

Thoughts, Preston fans? Let us know in the comments below.