PRESTON boss Craig Brown today warned that he expected to sell before he bought after a week of speculation linking him to Burnley's Glen Little.

The rumour began after Brown heaped praise on the Clarets' midfielder during a question-and-answer session with fans last week.

That led to some speculation that he was actively seeking to bring in the player.

But Brown said: "I've not made any move for him, it has all come from a question and answer session last week when I was asked what I thought of him.

"To be honest, I would expect to sell before I buy any new players because we have a large squad here already."

And Brown admitted he is open to offers for some of his squad -- particularly ones which involve loan out deals for his younger players.

He said: "We had seven players out on loan last season, and they have all come back to us.

"It gives them first team experience, and that is something we have to look at.

"We had interest expressed for Iain Anderson and Michael Keane, who both went out on loan, but nothing came of it.

"I think clubs are relying on loan deals and that suits us to a degree. At the same time, players like Michael Keane have opted to stay with us rather than move."

But, with less than a month until pre-season training starts, Brown isn't ruling out a dip into the transfer market.

He said: "We are constantly on the look out, we always are.

"But anyone we bring in has to be a substantial improvement on what we have already here, and we have a good squad here capable of beating any team in the division on its day."

North End face a hectic pre-season with a cluster of games before the big kick-off in August.

And there was good news for Brown from striker Ricardo Fuller, who went to see his American knee specialist in London last week.

Brown said: "He was given a clean bill of health so we are looking good for the start of pre-season. Ricardo has now gone on holiday to Jamaica, where he is from, ahead of pre-season.

"I hope to have a full squad for July 2 when pre-season starts."