Derby County midfielder Laurent Robert is on the verge of signing with Toronto FC, The Star reports. The 32-year-old practiced with the team on Tuesday, wearing the No. 30 jersey. TFC business managers Paul Beirne and Mo Johnston were also on hand at the training session; afterwards, the reporter spotted the pair conversing with a third man with a stack of papers between them that read “Derby County Football Club.”
Robert wasn’t the only new face at the TFC training session. Out-of-favor Barnsley midfielder Rohan Ricketts also attended the session, wearing the No. 7. While no one would comment on the presence of Robert, Johnston said that Ricketts “looked very good,” but he was quick to add that the Barnsley player was merely in town to see what TFC and MLS were all about. “We’re not in talks at the moment,” he said.
However, earlier in the week, Johnston had revealed that TFC was in negotiations with Robert and his agent and that the club was eager to add at least one new player before Saturday’s game against D.C. United. Robert signed with Derby in January, but played has played very little in the last two months. The Frenchman’s 14-year career included stints at Portsmouth and Newcastle United, where TFC coach John Carver served as an assistant. When asked to comment on the situation, Carver would only say the speculation “gives the team a massive boost, and I’ve seen that this week. When they see top players coming in, it inspires them.”