St Johnstone are closing in on a deal to sign former Exeter City defender, Cheick Diabate.
The 23-year-old is a free agent, having been released by the Devon club at the end of last season.
A commanding right-sided centre-half, Diabate has five seasons of EFL football under his belt.
Many of those games were played in League One, with the Londoner also spending half a season on loan in League Two at Bradford City.
His most recent two managers were both Scottish internationals – Gary Caldwell at Exeter and Graham Alexander at Bradford.
When he joined the latter last August, he said: “I would describe myself as a no-nonsense defender.
“I take pride in defending my box, defending long balls, tackling, intercepting and clearances.”
Phase two
Simo Valakari, who signed Morton centre-backs Jack Baird and Morgan Boyes early in the transfer window, needed one more after Daniels Balodis decided to trigger a release clause.
Bozo Mikulic is recovering from ACL surgery.
If Diabate does put pen to paper, his arrival will continue a theme of transfers from outwith Scotland.
Louis Lloyd’s switch from Caernarfon Town in Wales should be confirmed soon; Matty Foulds was released by Harrogate Town and goalkeeper, Toby Steward, is due to sign on loan from Portsmouth.
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