FOOTBALL: THE SKY Blues are set to sign highly-rated defender Farrend Rawson on a short term loan deal from Championship outfit Derby County while a deal for a striker Charles Vernam has been delayed.
The Observer understands that Rawson will be confirmed as Russell Slade’s third loan signing on Tuesday morning as he continues to bolster his squad in a bid to save the Sky Blues from relegation to League Two.
Rawson, 20, moves to the Ricoh Arena with a glowing reputation as a tough-tackling centre-back who impressed during two loan spells with Rotherham United.
The Nottingham-born defender signed his first professional deal with Derby back in 2014 and although he was named on the Derby bench for a League Cup match against Charlton in August that year, he has yet to make his full Rams debut.
After representing the Rams’ Under-23s, he moved to Rotherham in March 2015 on a 28-day loan and made his professional debut in a 2-0 victory away at Huddersfield.
Rawson returned to Rotherham the following season on loan and went on to make 16 appearances for The Millers, scoring two goals against Charlton and Fulham.
This season Rawson played in all three of Derby County Under-23s’ fixtures in the Checkatrade Trophy and moves to the Sky Blues in search of more first team exposure.
The Observer also understands that the Sky Blues will also sign Derby striker Charles Vernam, although his move is not expected to be completed until later on in the transfer window.
The move was intended to be completed this week but after Bradley Johnson was sent of towards the end of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Leeds, Rams boss Steve McClaren needs to keep Vernam in as temporary cover.
Vernam signed a two-and-a-half year deal with the Championship club back in December last year and has been in fine form for the club’s Under-23s in recent years.
The 20-year-old is a product of the Rams’ Academy and his form for the reserves earned Vernam his first team debut in the FA Cup away at West Brom at the beginning of December.
Speaking about Vernam back in December, Rams boss McClaren said: “Charles is a talented young footballer. There’s a lot of potential there with Charles to work with and he scores goals.”
