This week, Dave Ingram wants to see North End profit out of the sale of David Lucas if the suggestion that Wimbledon are about to swoop for him is true:

If Wimbledon come in for Lucas I think we should be brazen about it and quote £4m plus for him, a fee most people will think is ridiculous.

But think about it.

Whatever you ask you are not likely to get so why should Preston North End ask for £750,000 for him and only get £500,000 which is paid in dribs and drabs provided he plays so many games and becomes a full international.

We should do what they do in the Premiership - over-rate him.

By asking for £4 million we will probably get £3 million and have money in the bank to buy new players. I'm not saying I want to see him go, but if he is to go, then PNE should be better off for it and benefit from sell-on clauses as well.

We can then replace him by buying in an up and coming young keeper who we can groom but who will be a decent substitute to Tepi (Teuvo Moilenan) who is just too injury prone. If Lucas goes soon, it has to be a priority to get a new keeper in before the transfer deadline.

Another reason for quoting £4 million is that he will immediately be dubbed 'Preston's £4 million-rated goalkeeper' by the press - nationally, I believe - which would boost both his profile and ours because it automatically makes him sound like a world-class player.

Oh yes, and Wimbledon have already shown they have lots of money to throw around because they spent £7 million on the signing of John Hartson from West Ham.

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