Vale sign Queen’s Park’s Paton for undisclosed fee
Port Vale have signed Ruari Paton from Scottish Championship side Queen’s Park for an undisclosed six-figure fee.
The Dublin-born striker has signed a three-year deal and is the ninth summer signing made by Vale since last season’s relegation from League One.
“Ruari is a player that we’ve pursued for a good while now,” said Vale boss Darren Moore. “First and foremost, Ruari is a goalscorer.
“He’s a tenacious player who loves to work hard and won’t give opposition defenders a moment’s peace. And he is a wonderful personality with an undying will to push himself.”
Meanwhile, Vale defender Alex Iacovitti has moved the other way, returning to Scotland to join St Mirren for an undisclosed fee after a year in Burslem.
After signing from Ross County last summer, the Scotland Under-21 centre-half played 38 times for Vale last season as they were relegated from English League One.
Paton, 23, is under contract with the Spiders for two more years after only joining 12 months ago.
It means a fee will need to be paid for the Irish ace, who also netted 26 times for Queen of the South in the previous campaign.
But that hasn’t put off a trio of teams down south who are looking to build for next season.
Nigel Clough wants Paton to spearhead his Mansfield side after they won promotion to League One following their third-placed finish in League Two.
Clough has already dipped his toes in the Scottish market this summer, bringing out-of-contract St Mirren, and Australia midfielder, Keanu Baccus, to the club.
Leyton Orient are another side interested in bringing in Queen’s Park’s top scorer.
Richie Wellens is believed to be considering a move to take the former Hibs kid to The Os after they finished 11th in League One.
Valiants boss Darren Moore is also on the hunt for a front-man after relegation to League Two.
A potential move to Port Vale would see Paton link up with multiple former Scottish Premiership players, with Funso Ojo, formerly of Aberdeen, former Ross County defender, Alex Iacovitti, and ex-Motherwell keeper, Connor Ripley, already at the club.
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