A 1-0 win over Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon means that the Rams head into the international break just three points off the top six, with multiple sides going for the final two play-off places. Hull City and Southampton currently occupy those positions, and an exciting end to the campaign is in store.
Once the break is over, John Eustace’s side will face league leaders Coventry City, and the East Midlands outfit will aim to surprise their former boss Frank Lampard, as the Sky Blues are eyeing promotion to the Premier League.
Nevertheless, there will already be a focus on the summer transfer window at Pride Park, and Derby may already have two of their targets lined up for the first weeks of that window opening.
Derby County backed to seal fresh transfer deals for Ben Brereton Diaz and Sammie Szmodics
Ben Brereton Diaz joined the Rams from Southampton in August, and he has missed just one game all season. That came against the Saints, with the Chilean international on loan, while Sammie Szmodics made his way to DE24 on loan from Ipswich Town in the winter.
Both players have been key for Eustace in recent weeks, and when asked by Football League World if he expects both to join in the summer, Derby Fan Pundit, Shaun Woodward, said: “I think we’ve got a good opportunity to bring in Sammie Szmodics and Ben Brereton Diaz in the summer. I think they’ve both enjoyed their spells.
“Brereton Diaz has got better as the season’s gone on. He has appeared very at ease in his assigned role, scored some impressive goals, and established strong connections. He works really hard for the team. Despite a challenging beginning, he has truly excelled.
Shaun continued: “I think we’ll see the real Szmodics next season when he’s not competing with Clark for that number 10 role. With Szmodics, if the balance is right in the two behind him, then I think we’ll see him really flourish. Obviously, Eustace really likes both players. So, I think we’ve got a really good chance of bringing them both in. I think we will see the best out of both of them next season.”
John Eustace has rebuilt Derby County incredibly quickly
There was only one player who started Derby’s opening game of the season against Stoke City on the pitch for kick-off against Birmingham on Saturday, and that was Matt Clarke. While injuries and other factors have played a part in some of those changes, there is no denying that the Rams have improved greatly.
Brereton Diaz and Szmodics have played a major role in that transformation, with both scoring crucial goals for the team in recent weeks and months. Now, it seems a straightforward decision to bring both in permanently in the summer.
Eustace knows all about what the two attacking stars can provide for his team, and they have flourished under him on multiple occasions.
If Derby can sign both players for reasonable fees, then this is a no-brainer transfer double salvo for the Rams, and they will be vital additions for next season.
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