Rams duo out on loan

Rams duo out on loan

Rams duo Stephen Pearson and Mitch Hanson have left the club on loan deals, which could turn too permanent moves at the end of the season.

The big shock was the move of the Rams Wembley play-off final hero Pearson to Championship side Stoke City. If the move if made permanent could eventually net Derby County £2.5m.

With the Rams squad so thin the timing of the move has many Rams fans scratching their heads, but after all the rumours in the press the deal was finally completed yesterday morning after a confusing delay.

The Rams will receive a loan fee of around £500,000 and any permanent transfer would cost Stoke a further £1.5m plus add ons.

Such a deal would give Derby a hefty profit on Pearson, who arrived from Celtic for £750,000 14 months ago.

The decision to allow the 25-year-old to go out on loan is another clear indication of Paul Jewell's intention to shake up the Rams squad this summer for a serious challenge on the Championship.

"Any money we can save now will go towards helping us come straight back up. It's not going to be hidden away to pay bills, it's going to be used as a springboard to try to get back into the Premier League," Jewell said.

"I gave Stephen the option. I asked him about the move and he wanted to speak to Stoke. It's a good move for Stephen and it's a very good move for us financially.

"There's a transfer fee agreed between the two clubs. If they take him, it's going to rise up to £2.5m.

"Even if Stephen comes back, which he could well do, we have quite a considerable amount of money with the loan fee and the wages we will have saved on him. That money will go back in to strengthening our squad next season.

"The deal is almost a no-loser for us. If we had any chance of staying up, Stephen Pearson wouldn't have gone out on loan."

But Jewell has defended his decision to let the player join Stoke, especially with the squad being so thread bear.

"Stephen's a decent player but I have to make these decisions for the long-term benefit of the club," he said.

"Whoever I sold, you are never going to satisfy everybody. Somebody is always going to be unhappy."

Port Vale also left it late on deadline day to sign 18-year-old central defender Hanson on loan from the Rams until the end on the season.

The former England Under-18 international has another year left on his contract at Pride Park, but will look to impress ahead of next season.

But Hanson will not be available for immediate selection as he is struggling with a calf injury.