3 Carlton Morris replacements Luton Town must consider after Derby County deal ft Stoke City striker | OneFootball

Luton Town striker Carlton Morris is set for a return to the Championship with Derby County.

Luton Town striker Carlton Morris is closing in on a move to Championship side Derby County.

The 29-year-old looks set to join the Rams, with both clubs having agreed a fee and a medical scheduled for when he returns from holiday, as per journalist John Percy via X.

Morris' move to Pride Park will mean that he makes an immediate return to the second tier following the disappointment of Luton's relegation to League One last season.

He scored eight goals in 41 Championship appearances during the 2024/25 campaign despite being part of a struggling side, with important strikes in victories against Sheffield Wednesday, Watford, Stoke City, Derby and Bristol City not enough to save the Hatters from the drop.

The 2023/24 campaign saw the physical forward score 11 Premier League goals and assist five, which was a highly respectable return for his first season in the top flight, and should give John Eustace reason to believe that he is signing a player who can be a real handful up front for Derby next term.

There is no doubt that Luton will need to suitably replace Morris as they prepare to challenge for the League One title next season under Matt Bloomfield, so let's take a look at three strikers the Hatters could consider bringing to Kenilworth Road this summer.

Sam Nombe

Rotherham United striker Sam Nombe is a player who might already be capable of playing Championship football, but given Luton's financial position and the fact they will likely be competing for the title next term, he could be tempted to stay in the third tier and make a move down south if the Hatters came in with an offer.

The 26-year-old scored 14 goals in League One as the Millers finished 13th in the table last term, while he also provided five assists over the course of the campaign.

Rotherham paid a seven-figure fee to bring Nombe to the club from Exeter City while they were still in the Championship during the summer of 2023, and with two years remaining on the four-year deal he signed upon his arrival, it would likely take a fairly significant amount to sign him this summer.

However, Luton will be an attractive destination for players in League One ahead of the 2025/26 season, and the club will no doubt have some money to spend, so Nombe could be worth considering.

Nathan Lowe

Stoke City striker Nathan Lowe enjoyed an outstanding loan spell in League Two with Walsall during the first half of last season, scoring 15 goals in 22 league appearances before he was recalled by the Potters in January.

The 19-year-old only scored once in the Championship following his return to the bet365 Stadium, and it has been reported that Stoke would be willing to allow him to depart this summer for a fee in the region of £2.5 million, as per journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon.

Luton's League One promotion rivals, Huddersfield Town, are said to be close to matching Stoke's valuation for Lowe, but with Morris set to leave Kenilworth Road, the Hatters could consider joining the race for a forward who has shown he is capable of scoring regularly in the EFL and has plenty of time to develop further.

Ronan Hale

Another striker Luton could consider signing this summer to replace Morris is Ronan Hale.

The 26-year-old scored 18 goals in all competitions for Scottish Premiership side Ross County last season, and could be set for a return to England this summer, having spent time at Birmingham City during his youth career before making a name for himself in Northern Ireland.

League One trio Wigan Athletic, Reading and Luton were linked with a move for Hale by journalist Pete O'Rourke via X last month, and now that Morris is set to leave the Hatters, they could consider making a move for the prolific forward.