Carl Baker scored 11 goals in his first season in the Football League

Morecambe have sold Carl Baker to Stockport for an initial �175,000 but have signed Peterborough's Rene Howe on loan for the season.

Midfielder Baker, 25, has signed a three-year deal with the Hatters in a deal which could rise to �225,000.

Shrimps vice-chairman Graham Hodgson told BBC Radio Lancashire: "We rejected a number of offers before we finally got to a position where it was right."

Striker Howe scored nine goals during a loan spell at Rochdale last season.

Hodgson said: "Rene Howe's a natural goalscorer and a good footballer - his record at Rochdale was pretty good. [Manager] Sammy McIlroy has been watching him for a while.

It's a good move for Carl because he's going to be playing at a higher level Morecambe vice-chairman Graham Hodgson

"He's 6ft 1in and a big centre-forward and gives us something different - he's what you might call an old-fashioned target man and someone others can play off - it'll be interesting to see how he settles into the squad when he joins us on Thursday."

Baker proved an instant hit last season at Christie Park after joining from Southport, scoring 10 goals in 40 league starts from midfield.

Hodgson said: "When it looked as though it might not happen at one stage, Carl's initial reaction was disappointment, but now he's delighted. It's a good move for the player because he's going to be playing at a higher level."

The deal, which includes a sell-on clause, could become Morecambe's record sale - eclipsing the �180,000 transfer of Justin Jackson who joined Rushden & Diamonds in 2000.