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Derby County are out in Austria as they get themselves ready for the 2025/26 Championship campaign.
It’s under four weeks until we get underway for the new season, and excitement is starting to build in the East Midlands after the Rams avoided relegation on the final day of 2024/25.
John Eustace has a young star in Isaac Gordon, and with Patrick Agyemang set to join for £5.8m from Charlotte FC, plenty of work has gone on in the background to get the team ready to make moves up the table.
Derby have also signed Danny Batth from Blackburn Rovers after missing out on Nat Phillips to West Brom, but they are now showing interest in another centre-back. However, they must avoid a deal.
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Derby County must not sign John Egan
According to Pete O’Rourke, there are several Championship clubs showing an interest in Hull City defender John Egan.
The Rams, Stoke City and Wrexham are all targeting a move for the centre-back who only joined the Tigers in the January transfer window after starting the campaign at Burnley. However, he is perhaps most well known for his time at Sheffield United.
After signing a new deal for the Blades in 2020, Chris Wilder said (via: BBC Sport): “It’s a reward for the influence John has on the team and at the football club. He’s been part of our climb over the last two years, he’s been outstanding and taken his game to the next level.”
However, Derby have already strengthened at the back this summer. As well as that, Curtis Nelson is back in training following an ACL injury in January. Eustace does not need to pursue a deal for another centre-back who will expect to have a starting role in the Championship.
The Rams can happily let Wrexham make a move for John Egan
Although you will never want another side to beat you to a signing, the Rams do not exactly have the space in their squad for Egan and they should give up on a deal.
This will allow Wrexham to move ahead of them in the race, but a 32-year-old centre-back with plenty of Championship experience is something that Derby have with Nelson.
Sondre Langas and Matt Clarke will be Eustace’s starting defensive pairing once the Norwegian is back from injury, and with Ryan Nyambe and Craig Forsyth able to fill in when needed, the central defence is not where the East Midlands outfit need to improve.