PRESTON North End face a struggle to keep their hands on their top players as the new season approaches.

Club bosses have entered into talks to keep Lee Cartwright and Michael Jackson at the club amid speculation that the players - who each have just one year left on their respective contracts - could be about to be poached by higher-league rivals.

And reserve strike force Jason Harris and Jon Macken could also be on the way out following the arrival of Steve Basham and David Moyes' continuing determination to sign another front player before the start of the season.

Jackson, who swept the board by collecting virtually all the end of season awards, has been linked with a £1 million move to Manchester City, although interest from Maine Road boss Joe Royle in the defender is said to have wained in recent weeks as Royle steps up his search for a midfielder and a left-back...probably Dominic Ludden.

Ludden, who played a good role in the left-back position during PNE's unsuccessful promotion bid, could be pushed out of his slot by new arrival Adam Eaton, who, as the Citizen exclusively revealed last week, has joined PNE. Sources at Maine Road say Royle wants Ludden to make the switch, although PNE are expected to slap a high fee on the player.

Ludden has signed a new deal during the close season, but Jackson and Cartwright are yet to put pen to paper.

Both have contracts which only extend to the Year 2000 PNE bosses are determined to extend the contracts, if only to make sure they don't leave under the Bosman ruling.

If either player refuses to sign, Preston may opt to sell them sooner rather than later in the knowledge that both players will attract a lot of attention from other clubs.

Two other players possibly on the way out include Jason Harris and Jon Macken.

Harris has been on the fringes ever since arriving from Leyton Orient, while Macken was nudged out when Steve Basham arrived on loan.

With Basham now back full time with Kurt Nogan still around, and Moyes actively looking for another striker - probably Bristol Rovers' Jason Roberts - both may have to look to pastures new if they want regular first team football.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.