2 players who could follow Charlie Taylor to Derby County before August 1st | OneFootball

Two players that could join Derby County in the next couple of weeks

Derby County are aiming to compete for promotion to the Premier League next season after coming eighth in 2025/26.

A top eight finish in the upcoming campaign will be enough to secure a play-off place due to the competition expanding to include two more teams in 2026/27.

The Rams are entering their third year back in the second division after gaining promotion from League One in 2024 under Paul Warne.

It will also be John Eustace’s second full season, with the club eyeing a possible promotion fight.

The Derbyshire outfit completed a permanent move for Bobby Clark earlier in the summer, and have added Charlie Taylor as their latest signing.

Here we look at two players that could follow the defender to Pride Park between now and 1 August…

Ryan Hedges

Ryan Hedges is currently a free agent following the expiration of his contract with former side Blackburn Rovers.

The midfielder knows John Eustace well, as the pair worked together at Ewood Park prior to the 46-year-old’s move to Pride Park in February 2025.

And it has now been reported that Hedges is currently training with the Derby squad, although no contract offer has yet been made.

The 31-year-old has plenty of Championship experience, and knows exactly what to expect from Eustace as a coach.

While it’s unlikely he’d be a major part of the starting XI at Derby, he could prove a useful and affordable option to add depth.

Having experienced players like Hedges in the squad could prove quite useful ahead of a promotion push next season.

The wide-player contributed one goal and two assists from 24 appearances in the league last season, and that kind of impact at Derby as a free agent over the next 12 months would be welcome.

It’s far from guaranteed that a move will come to fruition, but training with the team could lead to an offer that simply works for both parties.

Gavin Bazunu

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The future of Jacob Widell Zetterstrom has become the subject of transfer speculation following his appearances for Sweden at the World Cup.

The goalkeeper has been linked with a possible move to Leeds United, and the chance to play in the Premier League will be tempting.

And one player that has been reported as a target to replace him is Southampton's Gavin Bazunu.

The Irishman has had a difficult couple of years, with injuries and errors both leading to him falling down the pecking order at St. Mary’s.

And a move to Pride Park could be the change of scenery he needs to get his career back on track.

Any deal will likely depend on the future of Zetterstrom, who will go into next season as first-choice if he stays, but things could accelerate quickly, particularly with Sweden’s World Cup now over.

It would be a blow to lose the shot-stopper, but Bazunu could come in quite swiftly if a sale for Zetterstrom is agreed, as Southampton are unlikely to stand in his way of a transfer.