Ryan Lowe has revealed that Preston had to fend off Premier League clubs to sign Freddie Woodman. The Preston boss added that he hopes Woodman can remain the No 1 goalkeeper at Deepdale for "many years to come".
Woodman joined the Lilywhites from Newcastle in the summer after spending nine years on Tyneside. Preston had come to rely upon Daniel Iversen, who returned to his parent club Leicester City, after being named the club's Player of the Year last term.
Lowe made the search for a first-choice goalkeeper his main priority and managed to beat Premier League clubs to his signature in the summer.
"He is [a serious buy] but I think it's important we did that," Lowe told LancsLive. "The noises coming from Preston fans and everyone else associated was that you lose Daniel Iversen and where do you go from there?
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"It was one of my main priorities - to get a very good goalkeeper in and I'd been speaking to Freddie early on, when we had the chance to chat to him.
"It certainly helped with him being at the same agency as me I'm sure! It definitely did down the line, because it was a battle in itself with Premier League clubs on the phone to him when he was driving down here to sign. He told them no, that it was done and his mind and heart was set on it. "
Woodman has kept a remarkable nine clean sheets in his first 13 Championship games for Preston. The Lilywhites boast the best defensive record in the second-tier (six goals conceded), although they have only found the net seven times. Nevertheless, Preston are just two points adrift of the Championship play-offs and Woodman has played a key role in their respectable start to the campaign.
"He has been a breath of fresh air.," Lowe said. "Are we lucky to have him? Yeah, but he wanted to come, play games and prove himself.
Lowe added: "He said something to me when he signed, which I won't repeat, but I thought 'wow' straight away. It told me the type of character he is and what a good goalkeeper he is. I am hoping that what he said comes true and I'm hoping he can be Preston North End's number one for many years to come."
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