Derby County in contact to sign in-demand “leader” who Eustace knows well

Despite already welcoming as many as four fresh faces this summer, Derby County have now reportedly initiated contact to sign another Championship rival.

Who Derby County have signed this summer

It’s been a busy summer for the Rams so far, having signed Andreas Weimann, Danny Batth, Richard O’Donnell and Carlton Morris to get off to an excellent start. All four players have a lot of experience in the Championship and all four could make an instant impact on John Eustace’s side as a result – starting in pre-season.

Those at Pride Park just have a matter of days before their pre-season fixtures get underway and a full month until their Championship campaign commences with a trip to Stoke City.

The next month is, therefore, crucial and any business must get done before that Stoke trip arrives if Eustace wants to start the season with a settled side ready to avoid the drop and more.

Perhaps the most impressive to arrive so far, Morris told Derby’s official website after putting pen to paper: “It’s a massive club that I’ve heard a lot of good things about. When they came in for me, it was a bit of a no-brainer, really.”

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He looks set to become their fifth signing of the summer.

After suffering relegation with Luton Town last season, the forward will be keen to avoid suffering the same fate at Pride Park. Instead, his sights should be set on causing plenty of upsets alongside the rest of Eustace’s side.

Even after welcoming Morris and others, however, Derby still reportedly have unfinished business in the transfer window and could yet sign their fifth EFL rival in the coming weeks.

According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Derby have now initiated contact to sign Callum Brittain from Blackburn Rovers this summer. The Rams already set their sights on Brittain earlier this summer and are joined by Wrexham and Middlesbrough in the race to sign the right-back, who Blackburn are keen to keep hold of ahead of next season, but the Rams have now made a move.

Given that Brittain is into the final year of his current deal at Ewood Park, Blackburn may have no choice but to sell one of their key men this summer and that’s where Derby could take full advantage.

At 27 years old, the defender would once again bring plenty of experience and, more importantly, experience playing under Eustace. The Blackburn man featured 43 times for the current Derby boss during their time together in Lancashire and could now get the chance to reunite with his former manager at Pride Park.

Having previously dubbed Brittain a “leader”, Eustace will know more than most exactly what he could add to the current Derby side.