Port Vale manager Neil Aspin has dipped into the Non-League market at his former club Gateshead to sign promising midfielder Luke Hannant for an undisclosed fee.
The NLP reported on Tuesday that several Football League clubs were interested in the midfielder, including League Two side Vale, with one of them having submitted an offer.
Hannant was signed from Northern League side Team Northumbria by Aspin in 2016 and has impressed this season on Tyneside, becoming a regular in Steve Watson's starting XI.
The Gateshead manager said: “Luke leaves us with a winning goal and a lot of good memories.
“He's a player who will only get better the more he's coached. It's unfortunate for us to lose him but it happens at this level but he leaves us with no hard feelings because I'd like to see him do well.
“He's a good lad and a good footballer who's now got the chance to play league football so we wish him all the best for the future.”
Crawley, Lincoln, Mansfield and Forest Green Rovers were all thought to have been monitoring the versatile Heed man.
Hannant began his career at Cambridge United but opted to study Sports Science at Northumbria University when he was released and that's how he came to the attention of Aspin in the north east.
The Valiants currently sit 18th in the fourth tier with Aspin having guided them out of the relegation zone since his arrival in October.
