Rumour: Port Vale linked with Shrewsbury defender
Port Vale linked with Zak Jules: website HITC Sport says that Shrewsbury Town defender Zak Jules is set to join the Valiants.
Port Vale manager Neil Aspin has made it clear that he is targeting a new defender after the departure of Gavin Gunning who rejected a contract offer in order to join League Two rivals Forest Green Rovers earlier this month. The Vale are certainly short in defence with experienced duo Adam Yates and Kjell Knops were both ruled out for the remainder of the season through injury. It leaves just converted midfielder Danny Pugh and youngster Graham Kelly as options on the left side of defence.
20 year-old Jules is a powerful left-sided centre-half who stands six foot three inches tall. He joined Shrewsbury from Reading signing a two year deal in the summer. The young defender is eligible to play for Scotland and has represented his country at all levels up to under-21. He was selected in the Scotland squad for the 2017 Toulon Tournament in France, and played in the group stage games against the Czech Republic and Indonesia. Jules has also had loan spells with Hemel Hempstead Town, Braintree Town, Motherwell and Chesterfield.
Jules was on loan at League Two rivals Chesterfield earlier this season but sadly a serious injury brought the loan to an end. The defender tore his hamstring during his sixth appearance and was forced to return to his parent club for rehabilitation.
The tall defender has described himself in the media as “fast and good on the ball” and has said that “I am quite quick and quite powerful, I have a half-decent left foot and I like to play a bit as well.” He can play in both central defence and also in the left-back position which offers Vale cover for both positions.
Should Jules join he will Neil Aspin’s fourth January transfer window signing joining forward Dior Angus, Donovan Wilson and midfielder Luke Hannant in the Port Vale squad. Former Gateshead manager Aspin is clearly trying to reshape the squad he inherited from former boss Michael Brown as he bids to steer Vale away from the League Two relegation zone.
Port Vale linked with Zak Jules: Factfile
Age: 20
Height: 6 foot 3 inches
Clubs: Shrewsbury, Reading
Loans: Braintree, Hemel Hempstead, Motherwell, Chesterfield
Games: 26
Goals: 1
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