Exclusive: Derby County agree deal to sign Aston Villa attacker as he heads in for medical
Derby County have agreed a deal with Aston Villa to sign attacker Rushian Hepburn-Murphy as he heads in to complete a deadline-day deal today, Football Insider understands.
The England Under-20 international’s season-long loan at Tranmere Rovers has been terminated at the midway point to allow him to move up a division to the Championship club.
A Derby source has told Football Insider that the terms of the loan have been agreed and Hepburn-Murphy, 21, has been given the green light by Villa to have a medical and complete a move today.
The source explained that manager Dean Smith and the Villa coaching staff believe a temporary move to Derby would be ideal for Hepburn-Murphy’s development.
The versatile forward, who can spearhead the attack, play on the flanks or even in a second striker role, has had a mixed campaign at League One outfit Tranmere.
His 21 appearances in all competitions have yielded five goals and one assists, but he has not figured for Tranmere since their Boxing Day defeat at Burton Albion.
Hepburn-Murphy is now set for his third loan spell in a year.
He spent the second half of last season out on loan at League Two Cambridge United, where he scored twice in 16 appearances.
The 6ft 2in forward progressed through the youth ranks at Villa to become the second youngest first-team debutant in the club’s history at 16 years and 176 days.
He has clocked up 16 further senior appearances, but he is not part of Smith’s first-team plans at this stage.
In other Aston Villa news, Danny Mills has claimed a hardly-ever-seen Villa player can be as good as “exceptional” Liverpool star.