The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Paton on brink of Saints switch
St Johnstone swoop for Tangerines midfielder on two-year deal
Dundee United midfielder Paul Paton has agreed personal terms with St Johnstone and passed a medical.
Now, all that remains for the former Partick Thistle man to make the switch to McDiarmid Park is the completion of paperwork on his early release from his United contract.
Paton has been a top target of Saints boss Tommy Wright since it became clear he would be allowed to leave Tannadice as part of cost-cutting for life in the Championship.
There was firm interest from Plymouth Argyle, Courier Sport understands, but the 29-year-old has chosen to stay in Tayside and agreed a two-year deal.
Paton will be unveiled at McDiarmid when the loose ends with United are tied up.
Saints have been assured the knee he had operated on last year isn’t a cause for concern.
Keith Watson from St Mirren, Michael Coulson from York City and Blair Alston from Falkirk are the other signings Wright has already made.
Meanwhile, striker John Sutton is being targeted by several clubs after the Perth outfit announced he could move on.
St Mirren have already been linked with the 32-year-old attacker, who was a fringe player with Saints last season, and Wright has confirmed Raith Rovers and Ayr United have both expressed an interest in him.
“One or two have to go out and if that happens hopefully we can bring another player in over the summer,” he said.
“There has been interest in John from Ian McCall at Ayr United and I’m sure some other clubs are talking to his agent. I was also speaking to Gary Locke at Raith Rovers and he asked about John during the conversation.
“It is unfortunate John hasn’t played as many games here as he’d have liked but he could certainly do a job at another club. I expect there will be a few managers interested.”