It would be little surprise if Portsmouth ended up sanctioning an exit for Callum Lang this month.

That is the view of Pompey reporter, Jordan Cross, who has weighed in on the speculation surrounding Lang and Preston North End. Linked with PNE in the summer, interest in the 27-year-old has resurfaced this month.

Following the Lancashire Post’s report of North End considering a return to the table for Lang, transfer guru Pete O’Rourke claimed a £1.5million bid had been rejected. It has been suggested that the Fratton Park club value Lang around the £2m mark.

In the summer, Portsmouth stood firm and kept hold of a player that had scored 10 league goals across the 2024/25 season. Lang is now enduring an injury-hit campaign with just nine appearances made.

Speaking on the latest episode of Pompey Talk, Cross said: ‘In the summer, it’s known that there was interest. From Pompey’s end I don’t think that materialised, they were adamant that didn’t materialise into an official bid.

‘I get the feeling that in the summer Pompey would not have got rid of Callum Lang, not a chance, and I just get the feeling there’s been a bit of a shift now for a number of different factors.

‘I just think if Preston were to hit the valuation, I think it happens now – I’ve got a feeling it would happen. I’m leaning towards that happening if they can get there… Callum Lang has started seven games this season.

‘He’s missed two thirds of the games and if you throw in since February when he had his injury and the trio of games in the last 11 months, he’s started 10 games. He’s played 11 games in 11 months.

‘I think it’s quite revealing from supporters because there was real panic in the summer and again, the reaction, I just think there’s been more of a shift to, ‘Okay, if they hit that valuation we should trade now and do that deal’.

‘You’ve got to take the player’s feelings into account as well. John Mousinho says he hasn’t spoken directly to Callum about his situation and he’s got a good relationship with Callum, and if he wants to leave then Callum will come and have a chat to him.

‘He’s going to become a father this year. He’s a Scouse lad and there’s a lot of noise about people around Callum wanting to get back up the country. We’ll see about the details about that, we’ll see. But you’ve got take his feelings into account.

‘If a player wants to get closer – Preston’s only an hour away from Liverpool. Preston are going for promotion, they’re a play-off chasing side and Pompey are in a relegation battle. There’s a lot to make sense of and I think on all sides it’s got more pointed towards it happening than not happening. It could go either way still.’