Port Vale would welcome permanent deal for Liam Chilvers

Defender Liam Chilvers began his career as a trainee at Arsenal

Coach Geoff Horsfield believes on-loan defender Liam Chilvers would be an excellent addition to the Port Vale squad if he joins the club permanently.

Chilvers, 30, has played 11 games for Vale since arriving on loan from Notts County in September and is likely to be available for transfer in January.

"It depends what Notts County say," Horsfield told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We haven't gone into that at the moment but he'd be a great addition to our squad because he's a great player."

Chilvers' three-month loan spell ends on 24 December, meaning the home game against Aldershot on Saturday will be his last at Vale Park.

The former Colchester and Preston centre-back has indicated that he would be happy to join Vale on a permanent basis.

Speaking in October, Chilvers told BBC Radio Stoke: "I need to have things sorted and know where I am.

"That's what I'm here to do, to help Port Vale and do well enough for the club to offer me something."

Horsfield added that Port Vale's management staff have been very pleased with the impact that Chilvers has made at the League Two club.

"He's done fantastically well," said the former Birmingham and West Bromwich Albion striker. "I said after the second game he played that it looked like he'd playing here for two years.

"Liam's experienced, he's a great professional, works hard and he's been brilliant for the rest of the lads."