Luke Plange opens up on big deadline day transfer and Derby County boss Wayne Rooney's influence

Luke Plange has been speaking about his transfer deadline-day move to Crystal Palace.

The 19-year-old Derby County striker joined the Eagles in a permanent deal on Monday night but he will remain on loan with the Rams for the rest of the season.

"I’m very excited to be joining a big Premier League club," Plange told Palace TV.

"Obviously I’ll be with Derby fighting for them in the Championship. But I will be ready to go back to Crystal Palace in the summer and get ready to go.

"When I heard I was very excited about the news. I know Palace are a big club, a big Premier League club. I knew that it was a very good chance for me to take and to progress in my career."

Plange only broke into Derby's first team in December and has scored three goals in eight league appearances.

He has been working under Rams boss Wayne Rooney and taking striking tips from Manchester United and England's record scorer. Plange is also looking forward to working with Palace manager Patrick Vieira, the former Arsenal star.

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The youngster also namechecked two other strikers when asked about his own style.

"I like to do it all," said Plange, a former Arsenal Academy player.

"I like to run in-behind, I like to come to feet, I like to take on players. To shoot from outside the box, poach inside the box, on my left and my right.

"Ronaldo or Thierry Henry [were my idols]. They were just world class. I’ve been watching them for a long time: clips or old games. They were really powerful, skilful and scored loads of goals as well.

"[Wayne Rooney] was a world class striker for many years – for decades. The amount of goals he scored, you really can’t knock him because he was doing it for years and years and years.

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"I’m taking tips and he’s helping me grow as a striker, and all the things he’s telling me I’m just trying to implement into my game and improve as a striker as well.

"He [Vieira] is such a big name for Arsenal as well, and part of the Invincible team. That’s a big figure to be playing underneath as well."

Plange has signed a contract at Selhurst Park until 2025.

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