Derby County told to take transfer gamble after fresh 19-goal striker link
Derby County have been told a move for Ilkeston Town's Tom Cursons might be a gamble worth taking given his form this season.
Reports claim the Rams are one of a number of clubs to check out the striker, who has scored 19 goals already this term in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.
He has helped Ilkeston to fourth in the table and is already attracting the attention of the scouts following the quality of his performances. Bolton and Barnsley have also been linked, but Ilkeston is on Derby's doorstep and former England midfielder Carlton Palmer believes there is no harm in looking at non-league players when you consider the successes of Macauley Langstaff and, more prominently, Jamie Vardy.
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“Tom Cursons is out of contract in the summer and has made it clear that he wants to play in league football. We’ve only got to look at Jamie Vardy as an example of where you can come from in non-league, and where you can go to," Palmer told FLW.
“The 23-year-old has scored 20 goals in all competitions so far this season, and Ilkeston are pushing for promotion as they sit fourth in the table. Derby are desperate to bring a striker in, as they’ve scored 31 goals in 26 games, and are only four points clear of the relegation places.
“Cursons has made his desire to make the move into full-time football clear, but he is aware that he doesn’t want to sit on the bench. The likes of Bolton, Barnsley and Peterborough will be encouraged by that as he is more likely to get game-time in League One.
“It’s always a gamble when you sign a non-league player, but if they can find the level regularly, then I think you can make the step up. We’ve seen the likes of Macauley Langstaff make the step up, he’s now at Millwall in the Championship after ripping it up in League One and Two.
“Yes, it’s a gamble, but it is one worth taking when you can get a player in for basically next to nothing. Derby County is a prime example - Paul Warne is brilliant with young players, and bringing them through, but obviously you want to play, so let's see what happens. It’s a gamble when you sign a player for £90 million, never mind when you take them from non-league, as to whether they turn out to be good or not. It might be a risk worth taking.”
