Preston North End boss Simon Grayson admits they attempted to buy Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

Johnstone's month-long spell at Preston is coming to an end and the Deepdale club were hoping to extend his loan but their request was snubbed by United, who have sent outcast Victor Valdes to Standard Liege.

Preston then asked to buy Johnstone, 22, on a permanent basis but, yet again, were rejected.

So the Championship side turned to West Brom's former United stopper Anders Lindegaard.

"We got told on Thursday night by Manchester United that there was no way we could do anything with Sam in terms of a loan signing," Simon Grayson said. "We tried to buy him but they said no to that, too.

"With some of the contacts we have, we made enquiries and we were really pleased that Tony Pulis at West Brom agreed to let Anders come to us for the rest of the season.

“We had to protect ourselves as a club to make sure we had another goalkeeping option.

"It is a shame that Sam is going back, he is a fantastic keeper who we would love to have at the club.

"We did as much as we did to try and secure him but United are in the position of not wanting to let him go."