PRESTON boss Alex Neil is leading the race for Ched Evans — as he tries to get away from Fleetwood.
The ex-Wales striker, 32, will be released by the Cod Army if they can sort out a settlement.
Sunderland and Ipswich are keen but he may want to stay in the north west.
Boss Joey Barton wants Evans out but Town could now ask for a fee.
He is unlikely to play any more games as he will qualify for a new deal.
Evans is leaving the League One side after a reported fall out with Barton.
His manager said last month: “He’s no longer with us and he’ll leave the building due to his discipline and his behaviour.
“There’s been multiple infractions and we always try to give a bit of leeway but it’s just run its course.”
Evans was originally convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman in Rhyl, Denbighshire, in May 2011 following a trial.
He was playing for Sheffield United at the time, who he scored 48 times for in 124 appearances, and was believed to be earning £18,000-a-week.
However, a Court of Appeal quashed his conviction and ordered a retrial in 2016.
A team of private investigators offered a £50,000 reward for any new information to help his case as they gathered new evidence.
A jury at Cardiff Crown Court then heard from two men who had had sexual relations with the complainant around the same period as the rape allegation.
Evans was found not guilty of the charge following the eight-day trial in less than three hours by the jury.
He then reached an out-of-court settlement, believed to be six-figures, with his original defence team over their handling of the case.
He joined Fleetwood initially on loan in the 2018/19 campaign and later joined permanently, scoring 31 goals in 84 league matches.
