Preston North End manager Alex Neil has suggested that clubs are no longer interested in signing midfielder Daniel Johnson.

The 27-year-old has been heavily linked with a switch to Ibrox in recent weeks but speaking after his side’s 1-0 defeat to Stoke City yesterday, Neil confirmed that he now expects the player to stay at Deepdale:

“All of that [the interest] has gone away, thankfully. We are hoping it continues that way. If you said to me right now, ‘how confident am I?’ I am very confident that none of the lads will be away.”

Reports in the Scottish press had indicated that Rangers were confident of sealing a deal for Johnson this week but it appears they have now backed away from a deal.

There have been claims that Preston were demanding £4m for the Jamaican, despite the midfielder’s contract expiring at the end of the season, and that may have led to the Light Blues moving on to other targets.

Gers boss Steven Gerrard has expressed the need for reinforcements before the transfer window closes at the start of next month, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll get any.