Youl Mawene deal on the cards at Preston North End

by Kieran Evans. Published Mon 14 Jun 2010 14:32

Preston North End boss Darren Ferguson is confident a deal can be concluded to keep Youl Mawene at Deepdale.

The French centre-half has reached the end of his current contract and has been offered new terms.

Ferguson is keen for the 30-year-old to extend his stay despite the defender having had a sixth season blighted by injury.

Ferguson told the Lancashire Evening Post: “We’ll still talking with Youl, we’ve offered him a deal and we’re negotiating like you do with any other contract.

“We want him to stay and I think there will be developments quite soon, maybe in the next week or so.

“Youl is a good player, a good type to have about the place, he’s a model professional with a great character.

“He’s had his injury problems but we know what we’re dealing with and how we can get the best out of him.

“The centre of defence is definitely a priority area for us before the season starts – at the moment we’ve only got Sean St Ledger to play there.

“We’ve got people on the transfer list, we didn’t take up the option for Liam Chilvers and he’s gone, the same thing applied with Elliott Ward.

“So as well as trying to get a deal with Youl sorted up, I’m looking for two more central defenders.”