Preston North End goalkeeper Chris Maxwell is edging closer to a move to local rivals Blackpool, after having his loan deal cut short at Hibernian, according to Football Insider.

Maxwell started this season on loan in the Scottish Premiership with Hibernian as he looks for regular playing time away from Alex Neil’s Preston North End side who currently have Declan Rudd as their cemented number one at Deepdale.

Maxwell made 12 league appearances for Hibs, who are now willing to cut his loan short so he can make the permanent move elsewhere, with Ofir Marciano and Adam Bogdan currently contesting the goalkeeper spot in the SPL.

Football Insider are now reporting that Maxwell is moving closer to a transfer to Simon Grayson’s Blackpool side as he is currently in advanced talks with the Tangerines over a short-term deal that would see him move to Bloomfield Road until the end of the season.

Grayson has worked with the ‘keeper before during his own spell at the Lilywhites and is eager for a reunion, especially after losing his first-choice stopper, Jak Alnwick, for an extended period recently.

Maxwell would potentially be the seventh piece of January business completed by Grayson, following Marc Bola, Jordan Thorniley, Grant Ward, Gary Madine, Connor Ronan into the door, along with Ben Heneghan extending his stay at the club this month.

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The verdict

There is no doubting that Maxwell still has something to offer in a League One promotion race, rather than the Championship and a move to the Fylde Coast might help Maxwell get back to regular first-team football this season.

Blackpool are still well within a shout of the play-offs this season and their current January business could play a huge part in them making their way up the table for the remaining games.