Dean Smith looking at City's Plummer to stop leaks
Walsall are to take a look at young Manchester City prospect Ellis Plummer in a bid to bolster their backline.
The left-footed centre-half, who is also comfortable at full-back or in a holding midfield role, joined City from Stockport County in 2006.
Boss Dean Smith said: "Ellis is coming in for us to have a look at. It's not actually a loan signing as such just yet.
"He's one that I enquired about a while ago and Manchester City still have him at their place so I've touched base with City and they're allowing him to come in for a couple of weeks to train with us so that we can have a look at him and he can have a look at us."He is very highly thought of. He went out to St. Mirren last year and did OK."
Plummer, 21, made his international debut for the England Under-17 side in 2010 and won the Etihad club's academy player of the year in 2012/13.
"We were looking for a left-sided centre-back all through pre-season and we wanted a permanent one if possible," Smith added. "But none really came that we were looking at.
"He can play as a sitting midfielder as well.
"He's been on the radar and we can have a good look at him."
Should he complete the deal, Plummer will follow in the footsteps of forward Jordy Hiwula, who joined on-loan from City's academy last season and proved a big hit at the Banks's, before sealing a permanent move to Huddersfield Town.
Despite missing out on a defender in the transfer window, Smith knows exactly what he is looking for during the loan period and won't be forced into unnecessary moves.
He added:"(The loan market) can be appealing. But for me the loan market is one where they've got to come in and be better than what you've got.
"There's got to be a need for them.
"There's no point taking somebodies younger development players and just have them on your bench.
"Because they're not developing either.
"I've always said that I always look for people coming on their second loans.
"We did with Hiwula and Michael Ngoo - they've already had a taste of what lower league football is about rather than the 'pampered' lifestyles that they get in the Premier League.
"The second loan we don't have to re-educate the players so much."
