Nottingham Forest's transfer plan after winger 'suffered' at loan club
Nottingham Forest are set to recall Josh Bowler from his loan spell at Preston North End, according to reports.
The Lancashire Post understands the winger could agree a move to another Sky Bet Championship club until the end of the season. A deal could be completed by the end of today [Friday].
Regular game time has been hard to come by for the 25-year-old, who has only managed 660 minutes across 13 appearances in all competitions. He joined the Lilywhites as Paul Heckingbottom's first signing last summer.
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Bowler's last game for Preston was in mid-January's FA Cup clash against Charlton Athletic. While his last appearance in the league was as a substitute against Oxford United at the start of the month.
Discussing the player's struggles cementing his place in the team after the draw against Luton, Heckingbottom explained: "Yes, left out. Just personnel. Obviously, I've recruited now another left-centre-back and left-wing-back.
"Listen, him and Jeppe (Okkels) both suffered. They've had moments and opportunities to come and take that chance, but a big thing that's gone against them as well is how comfortable the other players are at playing a different system - that doesn't suit them - and they've both sort of fallen victim to that, really."
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He has 18 months left on his contract at parent club Forest, with the situation at Preston that more difficult with no recall option included in the agreement. So it is understood the only way around it is to find Bowler another club.
Since joining the Reds from Blackpool in 2022 for a reported fee of £4m, Bowler has had four separate loan spells. First at Olympiacos before a return to Blackpool, and then a season at Cardiff City ahead of joining PNE.
