Derby hope progress can boost summer transfer plans
John Eustace believes Derby County’s progress this season can help them attract stronger Championship players in the summer window.
The Rams still have an outside chance of reaching the play-offs, but even if they fall short, a top-half finish is already secured after last season’s relegation battle.
Eustace feels Derby are now in a stronger position than they were 12 months ago, pointing to the calibre of players already brought in and the pull of Pride Park.
“If you look at the quality of players we have attracted already in Ben Brereton Diaz, Sam Szmodics, Lewis Travis, Bobby and Carlton Morris, these are all, apart from Clark, seasoned Championship winners.
“They know the league inside out, and possibly we wouldn’t have been able to get those players a year ago when we were first back into the Championship.
“They speak to other players in dressing rooms in that Championship circle, so I’m sure that we’ll be able to recruit the better players now who can come in and really make a difference for us.”
Derby are expected to be active again, but Eustace stressed the need for balance rather than simply adding names.
“We’ve still got to get the right balance of the squad and the age profiles and exactly what players can help us.
“But I just think that we’ve been able to bring that kind of quality player to the group this year and that can only be a positive thing. Derby’s on the way up.
“It’s a fantastic arena to play and there’s big pressure with 30,000 fans, four or five thousand away fans every week and that should really drive players on to want to come and be a part of that.”
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