PRESTON boss Craig Brown has told cash-crisis club Motherwell to name their price for highly-rated winger James McFadden.

North End have already had one official bid for the Scottish under-21 star turned down, with Motherwell describing the £200,000 placed on the table as derisory.

Boss Terry Butcher wants more like £2million, but Craig Brown is hopeful the price can be driven down, given the perilous state of the Scottish club's accounts at present.

A deal will have to be struck fast ,with a possible transfer deadline looming which would mean that McFadden would be stuck north of the border until January if things aren't sown up by August 31.

McFadden would give North End extra width Brown is so keen to embrace

He said: "We received notification by fax that they had turned down our original offer so I have sent Motherwell a fax back asking them how much they would be prepared to accept to let him go.

"He is a fantastic talent and one who would fit in very well here at Deepdale."

Preston face stiff competition for McFadden's signature, with the likes of Bayern Leverkusen, Celtic, Arsenal and Leeds all in the chase.

He scored in last weekend's 3-0 win over Kilmarnock.

McFadden has already worked under North End coach Billy Davies, following Davies' spell as manager at Fir Park.

The deal for Fulham winger Eddie Lewis appears to have hit the rocks after the American international failed to agree personal terms with Preston.

One deal which has gone through is that of North End physio Mick Rathbone.

He has decided to join up with Everton boss David Moyes, following in the footsteps of Jimmy Lumsden, who departed in the close season.

Meanwhile, back on the pitch, North End go into this Saturday's home tie against Stoke City still looking for their first victory of the season.

Craig Brown believes his team are trying too hard to impress and has asked them to relax a bit.

New signing Marlon Broomes was due to debut in the reserves last night against Bury.

Ricardo Fuller has been called up to play for Jamaica while Rob Edwards has turned down the chance to play for Wales.