Manager tells Leeds and Rangers that his ‘outstanding’ player will cost £20million

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Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe has told Lancs Live that interested clubs they might have to pay as much as £20m to sign goalkeeper Freddie Woodman this summer – amid reports that Leeds United and Rangers are keen on a deal.

Woodman, 25, left Newcastle United on a permanent deal to join Preston last summer. It comes after a string of loans including two spells in Scotland, two years at Swansea and then failing to play at Bournemouth. Now, he is at Preston.

Since joining mid-table side Preston, the England U21 star has clocked up 37 outings for Preston. In that time, he has kept 14 clean sheets, conceding 43 goals. A player that Newcastle manager Eddie Howe described as “outstanding”.

The Sun claim that form has attracted interest from Rangers, Leeds and Leicester City. They claimed a fee of £3.5m for Woodman would be enough. But Lowe has responded to the reports, saying they can pay £20m for his services.

“They can give us £20m for him if they want,” Lowe tells Lancs Live. “I don’t know what he’s worth. We know he’s a top, top ‘keeper. If he continues to get clean sheets, that’s what will happen; there will be talks of clubs, interest in him.” 

Lowe tells clubs to pay £20m to sign Woodman amid Leeds reports

Now of course, Leeds and Rangers – and Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City – will not be paying £20million for Woodman. Lowe’s comments are more of an indication to let those interested know, that they are desperate to keep Woodman.

The report said £3.5m would get him and it is likely that that figure is below Preston’s valuation. He is likely to rake in a bigger fee than that, especially if he is top of the Championship clean sheet charts come the end of the season in June.