Derby County are reported to have agreed a fee to sign up Mansfield Town defender Tom Naylor.

The player, who can play at right-back or centre-half, is set to join Derby on loan shortly, before joining on a permanent basis in January.

The Rams have headed off apparent interest from Burnley, Bournemouth, QPR, Leeds and Fulham for the Sutton-in-Ashfield-born 20-year old, who has been with the Stags since signing professional forms two-and-a-half years ago.

Mansfield, mid-table in the Blue Square Premier table, has a reasonable defensive record and it will be hoped that Tom can progress further under Clough.

Tom broke into the Stags’ first team last season with 16 appearances and is a promising prospect.

Derby used Naylor recently in the Rams reserves during a week’s trial - and obviously saw enough for Tom to tempt the other Tom (Glick) into easing the cheque book from his multiple-locked boardroom drawer.

We’d expect the main objective that Clough will have in mind for Tom is to understudy right-back John Brayford, who has been missed whilst injured with a succession of other defenders and midfielders filling in with mixed success during Brayford’s absence.

With a list of centre-halves injured, Brayford in rehab training and the team’s defensive record slipping back into the negative, Clough has managed to obtain a reinforcement to increase his cover and options.

Derby fans will sigh a little with relief that the newcomer may provide respite to the defensive disruption - and will hope that Tom stays injury-free at Derby!

Tom’s target must be to emulate PoTY John Brayford, or force his way into the central defensive partnership and fans will be pleased to see him achieve those aims.

There’s a BBC Sport report on the signing here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15623461.stm

The signing is not yet reported on the official DCFC website.

Welcome to PPS, Tom!

Photo: Action Images

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