Cameron Jerome agrees 18-month deal to join Derby and boost promotion challenge
Striker set to complete £1.9million move from Norwich after a medical today as Gary Rowett looks to bolster attacking options with automatic promotion to the Premier League in sight
CAMERON JEROME has agreed an 18-month contract with Derby and is expected to complete his move from Norwich today.
Derby boss Gary Rowett has beaten off competition from a string of Championship clubs to sign the striker.
Rowett believes the 31-year-old has the experience and quality to help boost Derby's hopes of gaining promotion to the Premier League this season.
Derby have agreed a fee rising to £1.9million for the former Stoke and Birmingham striker who is undergoing a medical this morning.
And should he come through the medical without complications, the Rams hope to announce the transfer by the end of the day.
Jerome had been targeted by several sides in the Championship after it emerged Norwich would be open to offers to reduce their wage bill.
Promotion hopefuls Cardiff were the first to show interest, while Birmingham and Sunderland both looked into the possibility of loan deals.
But once Derby made their interest known, Jerome was quick to take up the challenge of helping with another promotion bid.
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Norwich have moved quickly to cover for the expected departure of the striker by snapping up Tottenham youngster Marcus Edwards on loan.
And Jerome will swap the struggles of mid-table at Carrow Road for the pressure of challenging for automatic promotion at Pride Park.
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Rowett has been a big success since he took charge of the Rams, moulding a squad that has climbed up top second in the Championship table.
They are ten points adrift of runaway leaders Wolves, and the fight for the second automatic promotion spot looks set to go down to the wire this season.
Neil Warnock's Cardiff are just two points adrift in third, while Bristol City and Aston Villa are only a further three points back.
Rowett knows he will need plenty of depth to his squad for the remainder of the season - and players who will be able to deal with the pressure that will only grow in the coming months.