Derby County must arrange deal for free agent winger who was linked with Rangers this summer

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Injuries have been the main story coming out of Derby County for too long now, and once again, a key player at Pride Park is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Corey Blackett-Taylor impressed greatly in pre-season, and he looked to have put behind the previous year and a half, in which he spent plenty of time in the treatment room.

However, after registering his first assist of the campaign, he went down with a hamstring problem and now the former Charlton Athletic winger will be out of action for the next six weeks.

It leaves Kayden Jackson as the only available winger at Derby, and John Eustace must delve into the transfer market to ensure that he has ample cover out wide. Yet, there is one free agent who could be the answer to his problems.

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Derby County must push to sign Grady Diangana this summer

The Rams have been relatively busy so far this summer, making 10 new signings already, but they are lacking on the flanks and Blackett-Taylor’s newest injury has only added to those issues.

Yet, Grady Diangana could be the perfect player to come in and help rectify the selection nightmare that Eustace is facing in the coming weeks after he left West Bromwich Albion at the end of the last campaign.

He is yet to find a new club, despite scoring four goals and registering three assists for the Baggies in 34 Championship games in 2024/25, but Rangers have shown an interest in the winger previously, as per Africa Foot.

Therefore, it is crucial that Derby act quickly before he is signed by another club, which would leave Eustace still light on the wing.

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Grady Diangana may take a little bit of time to get up to speed

While there is no denying that Diangana would add more quality to the Rams, there will also be the concern that he is not yet fully fit and it could take a little bit of time before he is ready to play a full 90 minutes.

He started just 14 times for West Brom last season, but Derby are starting to get a little bit desperate with less than three weeks left in the transfer window.

Other signings are of course needed, especially those who are ready to get going, but you will be hard-pressed to find a player of Diangana’s level for free and this must not be turned down.

He joined the Baggies for £18m in 2020, as per Sky Sports, and while he did not exactly live up to his potential, there is still time for the 27-year-old to get himself back on track.