Five the Rams may have a look at in loan market in summer
PLAYERS WITH BIG POTENTIAL WHO COULD LOOK FOR REGULAR MINUTES
DERBY County face an important summer revamping their squad as they prepare for life back in the Championship.
After securing a first promotion in 17 years, all eyes are on how Paul Warne will attack the summer transfer market now that the club are free of EFL conditions agreed for the first two years after coming out of administration.
Premier League loans are likely to be on the agenda and the bonus of being promoted to the Championship does open up a better calibre of player.
We have has taken a look at a few players who could make a difference for the Rams in the second tier next term.
Bobby Clark
Derby have retained a considerable interest in the Liverpool midfielder and attempted to sign him back in September and then again in January but his ascent towards the first team under Jurgen Klopp put paid to any hopes of him moving to Pride Park.
You could understand why he was a player who Paul Warne was keen on, given the energy and tenacity that mirrors his father, Lee, who was a huge favourite in the centre of midfield at Newcastle United.
Clark was part of the Liverpool team that secured the Carabao Cup Trophy against Chelsea in February as they chased an unprecedented quadruple in Klopp’s final season in charge.
With the German now leaving Merseyside this summer, one wonders what the future holds for Clark under a new manager.
If there is the opportunity for Clark to spend a season out on loan, in which he would be guaranteed regular game time, then he already has a lot of fans at Derby.
Micah Hamilton
Hamilton has been with Manchester City since the under-nines and made the headlines this season when he scored on his debut for the club in their 3-2 win away to Red Star in the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola saw enough to give him another opportunity in Europe against Copenhagen and he also featured in a 5-0 win against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup. Blessed with searing pace but also intelligence, the winger could be one of those players primed for a season-long loan. He looks perfectly equipped for what Paul Warne wants from his wide players and, playing the Pep way, you are expected to work hard off the ball as well as on it.
City have not been afraid to loan out their young talent, as Liam Delap has recently been with Hull City, and Hamilton could be a next generation star.
Not many young players are handed their debut in the Champions League.
Either way, he is one player to keep an eye on.
Pundit Jamie Carragher gave him
Paul Warne was keen on the energy and tenacity of Bobby Clark that mirrors his father, Lee
the thumbs up after his performance against Red Star and said: “There was a lot to admire.#
“He reminds us of this man on our left (Micah Richards. His performance was fantastic.”
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
Warne has been eager to add pace and flair to his frontline, and the name of Jesurun Rak-Sakyi may well be one he is aware of.
The Crystal Palace winger spent a hugely productive loan spell with Charlton Athletic, the 21-year-old scoring 15 League One goals in the season before last.
Many assumed that would lead to him breaking into the Palace team on a regular basis in the Premier League this season but injuries have stunted his progress.
A hamstring problem has kept him on the sidelines but he is now back fit.
He did manage some appearances in the Premier League this season under Roy Hodgson but Oliver Glasner explained that the form of his attacking players meant he has been
playing with the under-21s.
Should that situation remain the same, then he might want to contemplate a loan in which he could be playing regularly.
Joe Taylor
The striker has been excellent for Lincoln City during his loan spell from Luton Town and Derby fans will recall the torrid time he gave Curtis Nelson and Eiran Cashin, one of the very few strikers to do so.
Lincoln just missed out on the play-offs but he finished his spell
with the Imps on 10 goals as they charged up the table late i.n the season and that was on top of the 12 he scored for Colchester United in league Two in the first half of the season.
He has bags of pace, a willingness to press and is physically strong too.
The only fly in the ointment to any potential deal is that Luton could be relegated from the Premier League.
The likelihood of them then allowing Taylor to join a Championship side would surely be remote.
For that reason, here’s hoping the
Hatters stay up. If they do, then Taylor’s tigerish approach would appear to be right up Warne’s alley.
Alex Matos
The last two loan players to come to Derby from Chelsea – Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount – nearly drove Derby to the Premier League.
Could the next be Alex Matos? He has caught the eye, having been given his debut under Mauricio Pochettino earlier this season.
A loan spell with Huddersfield Town followed in January, although it is not a move that has worked out tremendously well.
But Matos is deemed a huge talent and gives you tremendous versatility
He can play right wing, centre midfield and also as a number 10 behind the striker.
Players like that are so valuable in the modern game, and Matos may well benefit from a full season out on loan if he is not going to break into the Chelsea team regularly next season.
He packs bundles of energy wherever you play him and could well be a player that would tick a lot of boxes for Derby.