Derby County have agreed a deal to sign 19-year-old Tony Weston following his release from Rangers at the end of last season, according to a report from Football Insider.
Weston joined the Scottish giants three years ago after making a handful of appearances for League One side Blackpool. The fee was reported to be around £250,000 as the then-16-year-old signed a three-year contract at Ibrox.
The forward spent most of his spell at Rangers on loan at Partick Thistle and Cove Rangers, making just a single appearance for the former Scottish champions’ first-team before being released at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
Since then, Weston has been without a club but was taken on trial at Derby County at the beginning of July, as reported by the Derby Telegraph. Now, the player look set to sign for the Rams on a permanent basis.
Warne wants more?
Speaking to BBC Radio Derby on Monday, Derby boss Paul Warne admitted that he wants up to three more players to add to the squad before the season commences in a little over a week.
“I would like a [number] ‘9’ and a number ’10’ really, but I’m not trying to be greedy.”
Warne also conceded that the club’s budget is currently stretched and so a new signing would either be on a free transfer or a loan deal:
“If we’re getting a player in that’s better than the ones that we’ve got out here, who’s currently under contract, then you’re going to do well to get a number nine here for £200,000.
“So it’s either a free or a loan, they’re really our options.”
The signing of Weston on a free contract would convey that the Derby head coach was being truthful in his interview.
Writer’s View
Weston will not be too much of a gamble given that Derby County aren’t actually paying a transfer fee for the youngster, merely his wages.
However, Warne still needs to replace the goals of David McGoldrick who recently parted for Notts County. Conor Washington and Weston would be the only centre-forwards brought in during the summer transfer window and it’s unlikely that either will hit the goalscoring heights of the Irishman.
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