News Flash: Port Vale announce the signing of excellent player from……

Port Vale will be hoping to bounce straight back to League One at the first time of asking, but boss Darren Moore has the unenviable task of reshaping his squad with a limited budget.

With 16 first-team players still under contract, Moore will need to see players leave if he is to completely overhaul a squad which struggled at both ends of the pitch as they were relegated last season.

However, Vale have already shown ambition in the transfer market, announcing the signing of former Portsmouth winger Ronan Curtis on a three-year-deal. Vale fans will be hoping he is the first of many ambitious announcements that sets Moore and his squad up nicely for a promotion push.

Here Port Vale reporter Seb Short looks at three more moves the Vale hierarchy could make that would put Moore on cloud nine…

This would undoubtedly be a real coup for Port Vale, but signing someone of the calibre of Jordan Rhodes would send shockwaves through League Two, and would surely see a huge increase in season ticket sales at Vale Park in pre-season.

With the release of James Wilson, and with the news that Uche Ikpeazu has not taken up Vale’s contract offer and has instead signed for St Johnstone, Vale will be desperate for a proven goalscorer – and none come more proven than the 244 goal 34-year-old former Blackburn and Middlesbrough man.

Rhodes and Moore worked together briefly in a three-month spell at Sheffield Wednesday. Rhodes made eight starts and five substitute appearances, scoring three goals, in Moore’s 13 games in charge. But it wasn’t enough to keep the Owls in the Championship, and out-of-contract Rhodes left to re-sign for the club where he made his name, Huddersfield Town.

Rhodes spent 13 consecutive seasons in the Championship before he found himself sent on loan last season from parent-club Huddersfield to Blackpool.

Ironically, following Rhodes’ loan, Moore was installed as the Terriers’ boss, and spoke about bringing back Rhodes from his season-long loan. However, Moore was then sacked before the end of the January transfer window, and Rhodes saw the season out at the Seasiders, scoring 15 goals.

Rhodes is now out of contract again, and there are sure to be a host of clubs, including Blackpool, chasing his signature. But if Moore can promise the Scottish international a regular starting berth, and pair him with the likes of Ronan Curtis and Baylee Dipepa, Vale could have the best attacking trio in the fourth tier. Speaking of which…

In a dismal last season for Port Vale, the emergence of a home-grown 17-year-old striker was undoubtedly the highlight.

Following his three goals in League One, and four goals for England under-17s, Dipepa is being linked with a host of top clubs around Europe, including West Ham United and Manchester United.

However, Dipepa appears very grounded and told the Port Vale website of his “good relationships with people” at the club when he received his first international call up.