Preston North End Close In On Callum Lang Transfer

As the winter transfer window barrels toward its 7pm closure on Monday, all eyes in the Championship are glued to one of the market’s most intriguing storylines: Callum Lang’s imminent move from Portsmouth to Preston North End. After months of speculation, near-misses, and persistent rumors, it appears that Preston’s pursuit of the versatile forward is finally set to pay off, with both clubs agreeing to a £1.75 million fee. The deal, which has been in the works since last summer, signals a significant shift for both clubs as they chase very different ambitions in the second half of the season.

Preston North End, currently locked in a heated play-off push, have made no secret of their desire to add firepower up front. Manager Paul Heckingbottom, fresh off securing the loan signing of Strasbourg striker Milos Lukovic, was clear about his intentions: he wanted another attacker, but with a different profile from the Serbian centre-forward. Enter Callum Lang, a 27-year-old Liverpool native whose tenacity, versatility, and eye for goal made him a top target for the Lilywhites.

The Lancashire Post was among the first to report Preston’s revived interest in Lang earlier in the window, after a failed attempt to secure his signature last summer. This time, with Lang’s contract at Fratton Park set to expire in June—unless Portsmouth triggered their one-year extension option—the stars seemed to align for both player and club. The original £2 million price tag, floated since the summer, was ultimately negotiated down to £1.75 million, a figure both sides found agreeable as the deadline loomed ever closer.

Lang’s journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. Since arriving at Portsmouth in January 2024, he’s experienced the highs and lows typical of life in the Championship. Injuries have hampered his momentum at times, but his quality and professionalism never wavered. According to The News, Lang had already said his goodbyes to teammates at Portsmouth’s Hilsea training base earlier this week, with the deal gathering pace as he left the Blues’ facility for the final time. Now, as he heads north to Deepdale, Lang is not just moving closer to his Liverpool roots—he’s also preparing for a new chapter as a father in 2026.

For Lang, the transfer represents more than just a change of scenery. He leaves behind a Portsmouth side embroiled in a relegation battle, swapping it for a Preston squad with eyes firmly fixed on the play-offs. It’s a move that offers both personal and professional renewal. The News summed up the significance: “It means a pursuit which stretched back to last summer is set to prove successful, with Lang swapping a relegation battle for a Championship play-off push.”

Preston’s fans, hungry for attacking reinforcements, will be eager to see how Lang fits into Heckingbottom’s plans. The manager has been methodical in his approach, first landing Lukovic on loan from Strasbourg, then pushing for a player who brings a different set of skills to the frontline. Lang’s reputation as a hard-working, creative forward who can play across the attacking line should complement Preston’s existing options. And with the transfer window ticking down, the club’s confidence in quickly agreeing personal terms suggests Lang could be unveiled in time to face his former employers next weekend—a tantalizing prospect for both sets of supporters.

But what about Portsmouth? The loss of a key operator like Lang so late in the window is a bitter pill to swallow, but the club is wasting no time recalibrating its recruitment strategy. Manager John Mousinho and his staff have contingency plans in place, with work ongoing to bring in new faces before the window slams shut. Among the top targets is Dundee defender Luke Graham, a 21-year-old with a £1 million-plus valuation who is seen as an immediate impact player at Championship level. The Blues are also eyeing Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Svante Ingelsson, though that move is complicated by competition from Millwall and the player’s own deliberations about relocating from Yorkshire to the south coast.

Portsmouth’s January business has already been brisk, with four new signings—Millenic Alli, Ebou Adams, Keshi Anderson, and Aji Alese—joining the ranks. The club still has one loan spot available, thanks to Alese’s arrival from Sunderland, and could yet move for another striker before the deadline. Outgoings are also on the cards, with Jacob Farrell granted permission to seek loan minutes elsewhere and players like Tom McIntyre and Jordan Archer available for permanent moves if buyers can be found.

For Lang, the timing of the move couldn’t be better. After two years at Portsmouth, the 27-year-old is eager for a fresh start and the chance to play a pivotal role in Preston’s promotion chase. The fact that his debut could come against Portsmouth adds a delicious twist to the narrative—will he come back to haunt his old club, or will the Blues find a way to contain their former talisman?

As for the supporters, emotions are running high on both sides. Portsmouth fans, while disappointed to lose Lang, will be watching closely to see how the club’s recruitment drive unfolds in the final days of the window. Preston’s faithful, meanwhile, are hoping that the addition of Lang and Lukovic will provide the spark needed to push the club over the line in the play-off race.

One thing’s for sure: the closing days of this transfer window promise plenty of drama, intrigue, and last-minute twists. With Lang’s move all but complete, both Preston North End and Portsmouth are set for a new look as they enter the season’s decisive stretch. The Championship rarely disappoints when it comes to transfer theatrics, and this saga has delivered all the suspense and excitement fans could ask for.

As the clock ticks down to Monday’s 7pm deadline, all that remains is for the final paperwork to be signed and the new arrivals to settle in. For Callum Lang, the journey from Fratton Park to Deepdale marks both an end and a beginning—a chance to write a new chapter in his career, and perhaps, to tip the balance in the Championship’s ever-unpredictable play-off race.