John Eustace pounced on Luton Town’s woes this summer for Derby County’s key addition

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All in all, this has been a very good transfer window for Derby County, and John Eustace will look back on the last few months with a sense of pride.

The Rams are one of the winners from this summer, with 13 new players through the door, while the likes of Jake Rooney and Ben Osborn have dropped down to League One on loan for the rest of the season, freeing up space in the squad.

Ben Brereton Diaz was the final addition at Pride Park, although there was late interest in Middlesbrough’s Dan Barlaser.

Nevertheless, the East Midlands outfit have strengthened massively throughout this transfer window, and EFL Analysis has taken a look at who the key addition has been for Derby this summer.

• READ MORE – Middlesbrough left it late but Rob Edwards bagged the best deal of transfer deadline day

Carlton Morris is Derby County’s signing of the summer

Interestingly, the Rams’ very best signing was their first, with Carlton Morris leaving Luton Town to make his way to DE24 at the start of July.

While he picked up a slight knock in pre-season, he found fitness quite quickly, and he has been a crucial part of this Derby team already.

‘A player who can find the back of the net out of nothing, Morris has already scored four times in his first four games for the Rams, with his strikes against Bristol City and Ipswich Town in recent weeks proving to be vital as his new team picked up their first two points of the season.

Derby have lacked a clinical striker in recent years, but Eustace looks to have found his diamond already, just one transfer window into his time at Pride Park.

• READ MORE – Norwich City’s £6.9m summer signing has huge point to prove after Josh Sargent saga

Luton Town may be frustrated to see Carlton Morris’ strong start

Luton saw the very best of Morris during his time at Kenilworth Road, and while he did end last season as their top scorer, there will be an element of frustration at the number of goals he scored.

The 29-year-old found the back of the net just eight times in the Championship in 2024/25 as the Hatters were relegated to League One.

Ironically, the two clubs have almost swapped strikers this summer, with Jerry Yates joining Luton following a loan spell at Derby last season.

It is clear to see who the winner is from this particular deal, and Rams fans will be delighted with how their key addition has started.