Luton Town have reportedly made an approach to sign Devante Cole from fellow League One side, Port Vale, as the Hatters look to secure a first-time promotion back to the Championship.
That is according to a fresh update from Sky Sports via the publication’s Transfer Centre blog (09:39 on Tuesday, January 27th), as Jack Wilshere continues to stamp his authority on the squad at Kenilworth Road in what remains of his first transfer window in charge of the third tier side following his high-profile appointment in October.
The former Arsenal and England midfielder and former Norwich City assistant coach has overseen a mixed return of results since taking his current post, with the pre-season title favourites currently residing in seventh, having accumulated a total of 39 points from 27 League One fixtures so far this season under Wilshere and his predecessor, Matt Bloomfield.
The Bedfordshire side are only one place and three points behind the final play-off place, which is currently occupied by Huddersfield Town, with Wilshere’s men suffering a frustrating 1-0 defeat to a resurgent Plymouth Argyle at Home Park on Saturday afternoon.
They are straight back into league action this midweek though, and will hope to put things right against the aforementioned Terriers at the Accu Stadium in what could be a season-defining encounter for both promotion hopefuls.
However, they have, in the lead-up to the crucial showdown in West Yorkshire, reportedly expressed an interest in signing Cole from the Valiants, who remain at the foot of the League One table under the newly-appointed Jon Brady.
The North Staffordshire side have taken just 18 points from 25 league matches so far this season, and are currently 12 points adrift of safety despite having a game in hand over the four sides directly above them in the standings.
As such, it has already been a frustrating season for those at Vale Park, and it could get even worse if they were to lose the services of the experienced forward who only signed for the club in the summer.
Luton Town plot Port Vale transfer raid for experienced striker Devante Cole
It remains to be seen if the aforementioned pursuit of Cole is to be a successful one from a Luton perspective, but it is being claimed that the Hatters have launched an approach to sign the 30-year-old forward, who agreed a three-year deal with his current employers on Deadline Day in the summer transfer window after joining from Championship outfit, West Bromwich Albion.
Cole, the son of former Newcastle United and Manchester United hotshot, Andrew, had previously spent just one season at The Hawthorns after signing for the West Midlands club on a free transfer after departing Barnsley following their failed play-off campaign in 2023/24 after losing to Bolton Wanderers at the semi-final stage.
It is fair to say that the best spells of his senior career have come at League One level too, scoring a tally of 71 goals and providing a further 19 assists across 268 appearances.
The bulk of those also came at Oakwell, where Cole racked up a total of 43 goals and nine assists in 152 appearances for the Tykes.
In fairness, the experienced figure and former Manchester City academy graduate has been the leading marksman for Vale under both Brady and his predecessor, Darren Moore, in what has been a difficult season on the pitch, coupled by the sales of both Lorent Tolaj and Ronan Curtis to Plymouth in the summer and winter transfer windows respectively.
Cole has netted six times in 19 league appearances for the Valiants thus far in League One, as well as scoring twice in the FA Cup first round in a 5-1 rout over non-league side, Maldon and Tiptree.
Devante Cole would provide even further experience to Luton Town’s attacking options
If Luton were to land Cole’s services, the former England youth international would only add further experience to Wilshere’s attacking options.
West Ham United loanee, Gideon Kodua, is currently the club’s top scorer with nine, whilst the duo of Nakhi Wells and Jerry Yates have only scored four goals between them in a combined 44 appearances, despite their previous goalscoring ability and experience at this level.
As such, it perhaps isn’t the greatest of surprises that Wilshere is looking to bolster his frontline after a collective return of just 37 goals from 27 games so far, although it remains to be seen what fee Vale would command, with Cole having over two years left on his aforementioned contract.
