Plymouth Argyle have lost ground in their pursuit of Premier League starlet David Ozoh, with Derby County now favourites to sign the midfielder according to reports.
The Palace youngster has been pursued by Wayne Rooney’s side this summer, with several other Championship clubs also keeping Ozoh on their radar. The Pilgrims have sought to bring the Valencia-born player on a loan move, enquiring about his services at the start of the month.
Their initial rivals in completing the deal were the newly relegated Luton Town, seeking to add new members to a midfield which has lost Ross Barkley, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Luke Berry this summer. Rob Edwards’ side have been seeking a permanent deal for the 19-year-old.
According to Edmund Brack of the South London Press, Derby County have emerged as the favourite to secure a loan deal for Ozoh. Paul Warne’s side gained automatic promotion from League One last season with a second-place finish, returning to the Championship after a two-year exodus.
Darren Witcoop has also revealed that alongside The Rams, Cardiff City are also interested in a temporary deal for the Premier League player. The Bluebirds are in the market for a new number eight, with former Portsmouth star Alex Robertson also emerging as a target.
Millwall have also been linked with a loan move for the midfielder alongside fellow teammate Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, but The Lions have been far more apprehensive in their approaches. The winger has also been targetted by other sides, with Southampton recently having a loan offer rejected by the Croydon club.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOXT7qaBvVA?si=cFvAq-iyH45pl_xU&w=560&h=315]
Ozoh has made 13 appearances for The Eagles’ senior side, being handed his Premier League debut against Newcastle United under Patrick Vieira. Regular minutes may become harder to obtain next season as Oliver Glasner has bolstered his options with former player Daichi Kamada arriving this summer.
Plymouth have already delved into the loan market to make signings in the window with Darko Gyabi arriving from Leeds United. The Devon club narrowly missed relegation last season and will be hoping to repeat that feat going into their sophomore season in the second tier.
Writer’s View
Interest in David Ozoh is ramping up and the news that several clubs are involved will probably be the final nail in the coffin for Plymouth Argyle. Luton Town is certainly a better prospect as they are widely expected to be challenging at the top of the table. However, their search for a permanent deal may be their undoing If Palace believe he has a future at Selhurst Park.
Millwall, Cardiff and Derby should all be competing in a midfield battle this summer with pros and cons for each side. Paul Warne’s side certainly have momentum on their side following their promotion and The Bluebirds have a chance to challenge for the play-offs and will likely use him as a regular starter.
Plymouth are in for a real fight for survival this season. Wayne Rooney had a torrid time at Birmingham City which ultimately saw the club drop into League One. If he can discover the magic which saw his own Derby County side perform their own relegation escape in 2020, then perhaps the Pilgrims can blow away any fears. With players like Morgan Whittaker and club icon Ryan Hardie showing their potential in the Championship, it is possible that could happen.
1st Class Honours in Multimedia Journalism at Salford University. Writing mainly about League Two.
