Preston North End do not want to lose Ched Evans in the January transfer window after rumours regarding a switch to Wigan Athletic emerged, according to the Lancashire Post.

A report from The Sun (December 19, page 69) claimed that the Latics were in pole position to acquire the 32-year-old next month, with new North End boss Ryan Lowe willing to let the experienced striker depart Deepdale.

The Latics, who are flying high in League One right now, suffered a major blow at the end of November as star striker Charlie Wyke suffered a cardiac arrest in training, and he's not expected to return to football for a while.

 

 

 

 

Evans is in a similar mould of player to Wyke but he has spent most of the 2021-22 campaign injured with a foot problem - he played two of out PNE's opening three league matches but then missed three months before returning with goals against Middlesbrough and Fulham in November.

The Post's report states that Evans has impressed Lowe in training since his arrival from Plymouth Argyle and that PNE would not want to lose him in the mid-season window.

The Verdict

Even though Wigan are flying in the third tier right now, they will need to bolster their attack due to the horrific circumstances surrounding Wyke.

Evans would have fit that style of striker that Leam Richardson seems to want - a focal point or a target man who can bring others into play so it wasn't a surprise to see him linked.

Whilst the PNE report hasn't fully ruled out a move being made for Evans in January, it does appear that he's a part of Ryan Lowe's plans going forward.

He's made a big impact since returning from his long-term injury by scoring twice but you'd have to be concerned from a North End fan's standpoint as to whether he can stay fit for the rest of the season.