The Lilywhites have made their second signing of the summer by agreeing a deal to sign Michael Crowe, according to the official site.

Crowe's contract wasn't extended by Ipswich after not playing a single game all season, but Preston had competition for his signature because Cardiff were chasing after him as well.

The 22-year-old will provide competition for the first-team role at Deepdale, but he is unlikely to usurp Chris Maxwell who was impressive in goal last season.

His lack of playing time and availability as a free agent means that he was probably a cheap alternative for the clubs aiming to add depth without being able to offer many opportunities.

The Verdict

This signing makes sense because he's unlikely to play much, but he brings additional competition to the role and should be a capable back-up. However, his development is likely to be restricted without regular playing time.

The most important part about this signing is what it represents because it shows that Preston are aiming to get their business done quickly, so that they have a settled squad when the season starts as well as making sure they can get the most out of pre-season, which is the best approach to have especially if they want to build on their impressive finish last season.