Port Vale rumour: Ollie Arblaster linked with Derby County loan switch
The Sun newspaper says that League One rivals Derby County are interested in arranging a loan deal for former Port Vale loanee Ollie Arblaster.
The newspaper claims:
Derby are watching Blades midfielder Ollie Arblaster, 19, who is back from a loan at Port Vale. Arblaster may be out for a month with a gashed knee suffered in the Carabao Cup against Middlesbrough last month. So the Rams will have to leave it late to check on his recovery.
The teenager has been recalled by parent club Sheffield United after a spell which saw him become an automatic first eleven pick in the Port Vale side and hailed as one of the club’s best loan signings in years. Arblaster made 26 appearances in all competitions for the Valiants, finding the back of the net on two occasions and also assisting twice. On leaving the club he paid tribute to the club saying he had “loved every minute.”
At the time of the recall, Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder indicated that the player would not be loaned out at League One level again telling the local media: “He’ll be coming back. That’s a decision we’ve made. Port Vale know and understand that. We could put him out into the Championship, I suppose, so this was a decision we made. We feel he’s better with us.”
The news that another League One side are interested in Arblaster will therefore come as a surprise as, in addition to Wilder’s remarks, the player is out for up to six weeks with an injury sustained in the League Cup defeat to Middlesbrough.
The Valiants have been far more successful in the loan market this season with the progress of Arblaster and fellow loanee Alfie Devine a source of pride to the club. Director of Football David Flitcroft feels the work the club has undertaken with the pair will show bigger clubs how their youngsters can develop at Vale Park and persuade them to release more talent on loan.
Speaking after Arblaster’s recall he said: “Over the last three years, we have been working hard with Premier League clubs to present to them in the hope of bringing in best-of-class loans, and we are now seen as an outstanding home for some of the country’s top talent.”