Derby County, Bolton Wanderers and Barnsley eyeing 20-goal striker | OneFootball

A host of clubs are keen on Ilkeston Town's Tom Cursons.

Four EFL clubs are keen on Ilkeston Town's star striker, Tom Cursons.

This is according to Football Insider, who detail these clubs as being Derby County, Bolton Wanderers, Peterborough United and Barnsley.

Currently playing in the Northern Premier League (the seventh tier of English football), the youngster has already notched an impressive 20 goals across all competitions.

This prolific form has naturally attracted attention from clubs higher up the football pyramid, with both League One and Championship sides closely monitoring his progress.

Many might argue that such a leap in levels is too ambitious, but with the recent anniversary of Richard Kone's successful move from non-league to Wycombe Wanderers, it’s clear that untapped talent thrives in non-league. One of the interested clubs will be eager to replicate this success, banking on Cursons to carry his exceptional goalscoring form into the higher tiers.

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Derby County and League One clubs keen on Cursons

According to Football Insider, there are four clubs who believe that Cursons can translate his talent into professional football.

The Championship's Derby County are one of these, and with the Rams netting just 31 goals in 26 games, the Ilkeston striker could be the answer to their goalscoring woes.

Meanwhile, the other three teams have been relatively prolific in front of goal, but signing Cursons would align perfectly with Posh's strategy of developing young talent to sell on for a profit in the future.

At 23-years-old, he has already attracted transfer interest in the past, with the Robins confirming they have turned down multiple offers for their prolific forward.

However, it is likely these bids arrived from the upper echelons of non-league, and with professional clubs arriving at Ilkeston's doorstep, it is less plausible that they will reject future offers.

In addition, Cursons is out of contract this summer and selling him now would allow the club to net a significant fee for the Englishman.

Tom Cursons has professional ambitions

interview with the Northern Premier League.

Questioned about where his future lies, the forward said: “Ilkeston are aware that I want to play full-time football. I’m still in that age bracket where it can still happen, but I need to make sure it’s the right move at this stage of my career.

“I don’t want to go somewhere, sit on the bench for a year and stunt my progress. I know I can’t just jump as soon as I see a full-time contract in front of me.

“It’s quite weird really, as you dream of playing full-time, but when push comes to shove you always have to think whether it’s the right move at that time.”

Cursons is taking a measured approach, and if the right opportunity doesn’t present itself, he appears ready to stay at Ilkeston for the next six months to further his development.

At present, the Robins are sitting fourth in the NPL and are aiming for a top five finish in order to try and secure a play-off spot. If Cursons were to remain at the New Manor Ground, then it would thoroughly boost their hopes of promotion and would allow him to have a choice of clubs in the summer.

Where he would depart remains unclear, but with Darren Ferguson's Peterborough placing a priority on youth, it can be argued that he would be best suited at the Weston Homes Stadium.