Waterford director of football Pat Fenlon has confirmed Town are close to signing 19-year-old striker Aaron Drinan, as TWTD revealed on Sunday. Fenlon also says another frontman John Martin, who like Drinan spent time on trial with the Blues in August, could join his Waterford team-mate at Portman Road.
As reported on Sunday, a deal which will see Drinan sign for the Blues has been agreed and is set to be formalised in the next couple of days with Town understood to be paying Waterford €100,000 (£90,000).
The former Cork City youngster wouldn’t be able to play for the Blues at any level in a competitive game until after the transfer window opens in January.
"He is a raw talent with a lot of potential. He is a strong, aggressive, quick striker who can play in a number of positions,” Fenlon told the Irish Sun regarding Drinan.
"John has been over once already and they want another look so we’ll see, but we are much further along the road with Aaron so it should happen in the next day or two.”
Drinan, who has won caps with the Republic of Ireland’s home-based U19s side, joined Waterford from Cork City’s youth set-up in August and subsequently made four starts and one sub appearance, scoring once, as the Munster club carried off the League of Ireland First Division title and won promotion to the Premier Division.
Primarily a central striker but also operating on either the left or the right, Drinan played youth football with Cobh Ramblers and Carrigaline United prior to his time at Cork, who allowed him to move on without giving him a chance in their first team.
Martin, also a frontman, who scored four goals in 13 starts and two sub appearances as Waterford won the league title.
The 18-year-old, who was previously with Belvedere and St Patrick’s Athletic, was unable to link-up with the Blues for a second trial this week as he has been involved with the Republic of Ireland U19s, having previously won caps at U18s level.
Boss Mick McCarthy previously recruited former Blues striker Daryl Murphy from Waterford when Sunderland boss back in 2005, beating Town to the future Ireland international’s signature.
In the summer of 2013 he signed another Waterford youngster Jack Doherty for Town but the winger returned to Ireland the following year without breaking into the senior side. Former Blues Stephen and Noel Hunt also hail from the city in south-east Ireland.
Meanwhile, ex-Town striker Leon Best, 31, is reported to be training with League One Charlton Athletic.
The ex-Ireland international left Portman Road during the second half of last season having dropped out of manager Mick McCarthy's plans having signed after a trial in August 2016. He made six starts and six sub appearances without scoring.