Derby County: Moxey on the brink of joining Rams

DEAN Moxey is on the verge of joining Derby County after Exeter City accepted an offer for the player.

The two clubs reached an agreement yesterday and the Rams will pay in the region of £300,000 for the 23-year-old. Derby had an initial bid rejected by the Grecians but, following negotiations, a compromise was reached.

Moxey (pictured) will now have to agree terms and pass a medical before his transfer to Pride Park can be completed.

But he looks like becoming the latest addition to Nigel Clough's squad.

"The first stage has been reached – we have accepted a deal," said Exeter's director of football Steve Perryman.

"We have accepted a transfer fee and add-ons, which is usual for any higher-division club buying from a team below them.

"We asked and they asked and we met somewhere inbetween.

"It wasn't as much as we wanted and more than they wanted to pay but it was a very amicable agreement."

Perryman added: "Dean is a young player and I'm looking forward to seeing him play in the Championship and all that goes with it. He's a good player and we rate him very highly.

"If I was a Championship manager, I would sign him."

Moxey is a versatile left-sided player who can operate in defence or midfield and would provide competition for Jay McEveley at left-back.

He came through the ranks at Exeter, his hometown club, and made his senior debut while still a trainee in October 2003.

The 6ft 2in player has gone on to make almost 200 appearances, scoring 24 goals, and has helped the team achieve back-to-back promotions to League One.

During the season just finished, Moxey played 45 games in all competitions, netting six times.

Meanwhile, former Norwich City midfielder Mark Fotheringham has been invited for a trial with the Rams.

The 25-year-old is a free agent and looking for a new club after leaving Carrow Road following the Canaries' relegation to League One.

Fotheringham has already taken up the offer of a week-long trial with Spanish club Espanyol but has not ruled out the possibility of remaining in England.

He said: "No matter what happens (at Espanyol), I am not going to commit to anything.

"I'm a free agent and it's a great position to be in approaching the new season.

"Derby gaffer Nigel Clough has also invited me to start pre-season training with them and I like the idea of that."

Derby confirmed Fotheringham was one of a number of players who could be joining the squad for pre-season on a trial basis.