Tony Docherty reveals Dundee are closing in on Victor Lopez deal as Adewumi extends loan stay at Dens Park

Tony Docherty confirmed Dundee are close to adding Mexican winger Victor Lopez to their squad after signing former England Under-20 left-back Imari Samuels on a two-and-a-half-year deal from Brighton.

The Dark Blues’ strategic partnership with Monterrey has paved the way for Lopez to follow club-mate Cesar Garza, who recently made the move from North America to Dens Park.

The 21-year-old has been on loan at Mexican top-flight side Queretaro but is set to be recalled and loaned to the William Hill Premiership club.

“Yeah, he is one at the moment,” said Docherty. “Through extensive research and as a recruitment team, looking, poring over videos and actually being out and meeting with the player and all that kind of stuff, he’s one that we think could enhance the team.

“Likewise, we could realise his potential and help develop him as a player.”

Docherty was delighted to land Samuels, 21, ahead of Tuesday’s visit from Celtic.

“He’s somebody that’s always been on the radar since I’ve been in the club,” said the manager. “Every transfer window, Imari’s been a target and a really, really talented young left-back, or wing-back from Brighton.

“He went to Brighton from Reading for a fee. He’s represented England at every age group, up to Under-20. It is brilliant for the club to get him on a permanent. He’s a really talented, technical player and we hope to help realise his potential.

“We’re really pleased about him coming here because he had other suitors, but he chose here because he’d looked at some of the development work we did with other younger players and decided he wanted to come here.”

Dundee confirmed on Monday that forward Oluwaseun Adewumi’s loan from Burnley has officially been extended until the end of the season, while Docherty revealed at his pre-match media briefing that QPR will not be taking up the option to recall left-back Ziyad Larkeche early from his season-long loan.

“Ziyad’s still injured, still down at his parent club at the moment, but delighted to get the news because there was a call-back on that,” said Docherty. “We’re hoping we get Ziyad back early next week and we want him, hopefully, to be as close as he can to being fit for the upcoming games.”

Dundee are buoyed by a strong display in a 1-1 draw at home to Rangers last Thursday and Docherty is hoping for a similar performance against the Hoops.

“We’re playing a really strong Celtic team,” he said. “Last week, we played a really strong Rangers team. What an example last week was of asking the squad to go over and above for their team-mates.

“I think you’ve seen that in the performance that we put in. And I think it’s going to need that type of performance again against Celtic.”