Exeter City transfer latest as Grecians hope to make signing this week

Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell is hopeful that he will be completing one more signing for the Grecians before the end of the week. Already City have brought in Jack McMillan, Jay Bird, Ed Francis and Josh Magennis, as well bringing back former loanee Ryan Woods on a permanent deal.

McMillan and Magennis made their first appearance for City in Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over Tiverton Town, while the other three are building up their fitness levels following joining the Exeter group later on in pre-season. But there could be more arrivals coming soon.

City featured a trialist in that game against the Yellows – understood to be former West Ham midfielder Keenan Forson. The 22-year-old had only linked up with Exeter on Monday and will be with the team for the rest of the week.

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Caldwell after the game said that he was hopeful of getting one more player in before the trip to Weston-super-Mare on Friday night, but that they would work hard throughout the summer to keep bringing quality into the group.

“We are working hard on one in particular which could be in by the end of the week,” the Scot told DevonLive. “But it is by no means a done deal. There are others we are looking at later in the window but that will be a constant for us. That will go right through to September and as long as we are better at the end, it will be a positive window.”

On the trialist, whom Caldwell did not mention by name, he added: “The trialist came in yesterday, has only been here with us for one day. He did well, he is here all week and see how he gets through the week.”

It is understood the trialist was former Hammers man Forson. The 22-year-old has made ten appearances for West Ham’s U21s in the EFL Trophy, as well as making two appearances in Europe for the senior team. He spent last season on loan with Dagenham and Redbridge in the National League, making 40 appearances.

The Grecians gave 24 players a run out in the win over Tiverton, with teenage defender Liam Oakes one of those who took to the field. Caldwell singled out the youngster for praise in his post-match interview.

“Oakesy was brilliant again,” he said. “Every time trained he has shown his quality. He has not fully developed and is a young lad, but he is aggressive and tenacious and comes out with the ball a lot of the time and he is showing that when he trains and he showed it again tonight.”