Hatters to seal Pesch deal

Kevin Blackwell has told skysports.com that Luton are close to signing Paul Peschisolido.

The former Derby County striker is ready to drop into League One to join the Hatters revolution, and Blackwell believes it is simply a case of confirming the final details of the 36-year-old's transfer as another part of his reshaped squad slots into place.

Blackwell said: "It looks as if Paul will be a Luton player very shortly. He is willing to come to the club and take on the responsibilities that we are asking of all of our older players, and that is to kick-start getting us back up to where we should be."

The former Birmingham City and Fulham man looks set to sign a one-year deal at Kenilworth Road; a move that will complete a busy week of transfer activity for Blackwell, who has also picked up QPR striker Paul Furlong and West Bromwich Albion defender Chris Perry.

"People might see a lot of older players coming to the club, but this is the experience that we desperately need since our existing eldest first-team player is only 28," he continued.

"The side that finished last season had eight players under the age of 22, so getting experience in was something I felt I desperately needed to do.

"And I can't help feeling that with more older heads and a bit of know-how in key areas, we might still be in the Championship now.

"In Peschisolido, Perry and Darren Currie we have three guys who played in the Championship play-off final. It doesn't matter how old the players are if they have that calibre to perform, so that's what we're investing in."

And Blackwell confirmed that the club are still on the look-out for new talent having given trials this week to Ipswich's Martin Britton, Watford's Joel Grant and Portsmouth's Daryl Fordyce.

"We've got an open mind to anyone new coming in who can add something to the squad, so we'll probably be making some decisions in that direction over the next week or so."