Despite signing Ben Osborn as a free agent last week, Derby County are still looking for players to bolster their midfield department but could be set to miss out on a key target, according to reports.
Osborn, a former academy player, re-joined the Rams on a two-year contract after his deal with Sheffield United expired following the club’s relegation from the Premier League. But he’s not the only midfielder that Paul Warne has been eyeing up this summer.
It was revealed last week by TWTD that Derby were keen to sign former Leyton Orient loanee Idris El Mizouni from newly promoted top-flight side Ipswich Town. The outlet claimed that the Tractor Boys were open to selling the Tunisia international and were holding out for a £350,000 fee for the defensive-minded player.
While this figure may have been in the price range of Derby County, TWTD have released another report, announcing that Oxford United, who also previously held an interest in the 23-year-old, are closing in on a permanent transfer for El Mizouni after continued negotiations with Ipswich.
Town recently decided to take up the one-year extension clause in El Mizouni’s contract which was set to expire last week. As a result, the club will now receive a fee for the player who has made merely 26 appearances for the East Anglian outfit. Unless the Rams can equal or improve on Oxford’s current offer for the player, he will likely move to the Kassam Stadium, meaning Warne and his recruitment staff will have to head back to the drawing board.
Writer’s View
Most of the signings that Derby County make this summer will be free agents and loan deals, hence why Ipswich Town’s asking price may be outside of the club’s budget this summer. Nevertheless, it is still another transfer blow for Warne.
The Tunisian would have strengthened the team’s midfield, despite having limited experience in the Championship. Furthermore, he is still quite young and could have potentially been sold for a profit in a few years. Now, the Rams must make a move to sign last season’s loanee Ebou Adams from Cardiff City on a permanent basis before they miss out on yet another target.
Deputy Head of Writing
