Football

Port Vale coach announces plans to buy Nottingham Forest defender Adam Crookes

Adam Crookes is on loan at League Two Port Vale from Championship outfit Nottingham Forest, but will he leave the City Ground for good?

Lincoln City's Adam Crookes applauds the fans following the Carabao Cup First Round match between Port Vale and Lincoln City at Vale Park on August 14, 2018 in Burslem, United Kingdom.

Port Vale’s assistant manager Dave Kevan has confirmed that the club will look to sign Nottingham Forest loanee Adam Crookes on a permanent basis this summer, while speaking to the Stoke Sentinel.

The 21-year-old defender has been playing for the Valiants since January and he has made a big impression in 11 League Two games, certainly more than he made during an ill-fated spell at Lincoln in the first half of the season anyway.

Crookes has nailed down a place in the starting XI, playing either at left-back or in a back three, and might just stay given that his contract at Nottingham Forest is set to expire in July.

Kevan has now suggested that Port Vale would jump at the chance to sign the Lincoln-born defender on a free if they can.

“It would be one that we would be looking to. We know the boy now and know the type of character he is which is important,” he said.

Lincoln City's Adam Crookes vies for possession with Scunthorpe United's Andy Dales during the EFL Checkatrade Trophy Northern Group H match between Scunthorpe United and Lincoln City on...

“But whether or not that is a possibility, we will look to go down that road when we can.”

Crookes joined Forest as a schoolboy and captained the Championship club at Under 18 level before making the step up to Jack Lester’s U23 side about three years ago.

But he has never made his debut for the senior team and it seems unlikely that he will ever wear the famous red kit under Martin O’Neill with just three months left on the defender’s contract.

Lincoln City's Adam Crookes during the EFL Checkatrade Trophy Northern Group H match between Scunthorpe United and Lincoln City on October 9, 2018 in Scunthorpe, England.

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