Derby County have reached an agreement with Aston Villa over a deal to take forward Rushian Hepburn-Murphy on loan for the rest of the campaign, according to the Football Insider.

The Rams have been looking to add to their attacking options this month, and the need for adding an extra attacking player has been somewhat increased with Mason Bennett having been allowed to join Championship rivals Millwall on loan for the rest of the season.

Hepburn-Murphy would offer extra tactical flexibility for Phillip Cocu, with the 21-year-old having the ability to play in both the wide positions and up front, and Aston Villa are keen for the forward to go out and get some more regular minutes in the Championship.

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The 21-year-old has spent the first half of the season out loan with League One Tranmere Rovers, where he has scored four goals in 17 league appearances, but he has not featured for them since their Boxing Day clash against Burton Albion – and Hepburn-Murphy’s loan move is now thought to have been cut short so that he can make the move to Derby for the rest of the campaign.

The verdict

This will be a positive move for Cocu, with the Dutchman clearly having wanted to add to his options in the wide positions throughout the month, and having also let Bennett go to Millwall on loan there was a gap in the squad that needed to be filled before the window closed.

In may respects the 21-year-old seems like an ideal potential replacement for Bennett, with the forward able to play in many different positions across the forward line like the 23-year-old, which means that Cocu will have the option of being able to use him in the wide areas or up front if the Rams suffer any injury issues.

However, considering his loan spell with Tranmere in League One did not go entirely smoothly it could be a potential risky addition, especially if the Rams are pinning their hopes on him coming in and making an instant impact to their attacking output.

Cocu, though, will just be pleased that the Rams have been able to bring in an extra attacking body, and the forward will help to provide some competition to the likes of Jason Knight, Martyn Waghorn, Tom Lawrence and Duane Holmes for the rest of the campaign.