Reported Nottingham Forest target Ben Whiteman has signed for Championship rivals Preston North End.
The midfielder had attracted plenty of interest this month, with his performances for Doncaster Rovers said to have caught the eye of a number of clubs.
The Reds are said to have scouted the former Sheffield United youngster, while arch-rivals Derby County, Barnsley, Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City were also linked.
QPR had a bid knocked back, and Preston had two offers turned down before finally winning the race for his signature.
Whiteman has penned a three-and-a-half-year deal at Deepdale for an undisclosed fee, with Rovers reportedly securing a healthy sell-on clause into the contract.
Explaining his decision to leave Doncaster and join the Lilywhites, he told iFollow PNE: “I am over the moon to be at this massive football club.
"There weren’t many sides that I would have moved onto from Doncaster, but this ticked all the boxes and once I spoke to the manager it was a no-brainer for me.
“As soon as I had finished with him, I had made my mind up straight away. He spoke very well and spoke very highly of the football club and I can’t wait to start.”
In an interview with the Doncaster Free Press, he added: “It just ticked all the boxes in terms of the club, the manager, the location - it was just the perfect fit.
“How keen Preston were was a massive pulling factor as well and it just ticked all the boxes.”
Preston boss Alex Neil said: “We have been after him since the window opened and we have managed to stave off a number of other suitors, who were interested, so it has been great business from us.
“He is a player who has his best years ahead of him. He is only 24 and I am really happy that we have managed to get him in.”
