Freddie Woodman would cost Rangers '£20m' as Preston boss gets tough despite welcoming goalkeeper's Ibrox links

Preston boss Ryan Lowe has no problem with Freddie Woodman's link to Rangers – although it will cost Michael Beale a costly fee to land him.

The goalkeeper has been reported as a summer transfer target for the Light Blues, with 41-year-old Allan McGregor their current number one. Woodman has previous Scottish Premiership experience at Aberdeen and Kilmarnock on loan from Newcastle United, who he left for Deepdale permanently last summer. Rangers had a scout at the Lancashire side's 0-0 draw with Coventry City this week.

Woodman kept seven consecutive clean sheets in as many opening Championship matches this season and has 14 overall. Lowe reckons it's a good thing for Preston that clubs like Rangers want one of his players, but when asked about the rumours, he warned: "Good, they can give us £20m for him if they want. I don't know what he's worth but we know he's a top, top keeper. If he continues to get those clean sheets then that's what will happen, there will be talks of clubs and interest in him. Especially those types of clubs.

"He's an England youth international and there's not many of those types of good 'keepers around aside from the ones that are already there. We knew when we were signing Fred that he was a good goalkeeper and he just needs to continue that good form.

"Everyone has dips and Fred had a dip a few weeks ago and he wasn't quite happy with the performance but now he's back to collecting clean sheets. If he can get another six clean sheets out of the next 12 games then that's 20 clean sheets he'll have had.

"Wow, we'll help him get that, the defenders in front of him will certainly help him. You'd like all of your players linked, some people in the media get the links out there for whatever it is