NOTTINGHAM Forest are close to completing a deal to sign winger Stephen McLaughlin from Derry City.
The Championship club are attempting to iron out a few final details that will see the 22-year-old move across the Irish channel.
A fee has been agreed with his club and basic terms have been negotiated with the player.
And manager Sean O'Driscoll hopes he can have the same impact as Garath McCleary, in the long term, at the City Ground.
"We are in the process of signing Stephen and looks to be a talented boy," said O'Driscoll.
"He can play on the right or the left, he is 22-years-old and has great potential.
"He came from the same club as James McClean came from, when he went to Sunderland.
"They let him go, because they knew they had Stephen coming through as well."
McLaughlin will initially be part of the development squad at Forest – but O'Driscoll says he will get his chance in the first team before long.
"I don't think you can wait a couple of years for him to come through. He has impressed in training," he said.
"The dilemma is whether you throw him in because he has that potential? Because how long was Garath McCleary here before Steve Cotterill gave him a run of games in the side.
"He was here for a few years when what he needed was games.
"We want to be in a position where we can give him a chance.
"He has potential and this club has a history of bringing through good young players. We want to continue that.
"The fee has been arranged, there are just one or two other things we need to sort out."
The Championship club are attempting to iron out a few final details that will see the 22-year-old move across the Irish channel.
A fee has been agreed with his club and basic terms have been negotiated with the player.
And manager Sean O'Driscoll hopes he can have the same impact as Garath McCleary, in the long term, at the City Ground.
"We are in the process of signing Stephen and looks to be a talented boy," said O'Driscoll.
"He can play on the right or the left, he is 22-years-old and has great potential.
"He came from the same club as James McClean came from, when he went to Sunderland.
"They let him go, because they knew they had Stephen coming through as well."
McLaughlin will initially be part of the development squad at Forest – but O'Driscoll says he will get his chance in the first team before long.
"I don't think you can wait a couple of years for him to come through. He has impressed in training," he said.
"The dilemma is whether you throw him in because he has that potential? Because how long was Garath McCleary here before Steve Cotterill gave him a run of games in the side.
"He was here for a few years when what he needed was games.
"We want to be in a position where we can give him a chance.
"He has potential and this club has a history of bringing through good young players. We want to continue that.
"The fee has been arranged, there are just one or two other things we need to sort out."
