Derby County and Sheffield United want to sign Rangers star - he has a serious weapon that can cause damage | OneFootball

Joe Rothwell has been linked to both Derby County and Sheffield United ahead of the January transfer window

Rangers midfielder Joe Rothwell has been linked with a January switch to both Derby County and Sheffield United, with both Championship sides being well aware of his excellent set-piece ability.

Having spent a productive season on loan at Leeds United last season under Daniel Farke in the EFL Championship, helping the Whites to amass 100 points and the league title, Joe Rothwell joined Scottish outfit Rangers in the summer.

The midfielder came through the youth ranks at Manchester United before joining Oxford United in League One in 2016, where he would spend two seasons before making the step-up to the Championship with Blackburn Rovers in 2018.

Rothwell would go on to make 161 appearances for the Lancashire outfit ahead of his free transfer to Bournemouth in 2022, but struggled to break his way into the Cherries' side in the top flight, heading out on loan to Southampton and then Leeds last season.

Since his summer move to Glasgow, linking back up with former boss Russell Martin, things haven't gone to plan for the Englishman, with Martin being dismissed and replaced by former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl, with whom he has fallen out of favour.

Rothwell has dropped in the pecking order behind each of Connor Barron, Nicolas Raskin, and Mohamed Diomande, failing to make an appearance in the last eight league games, seeing him linked with an early exit as both Derby County and Sheffield United hold interest in the 30-year-old.

Joe Rothwell created the most chances per 90 at Leeds United last season

According to The Daily Record, Sheffield United are in pole position to land the signature of Rothwell this January, but they face competition from Derby, with Alan Nixon reporting that the Rams are offering competition for his capture.

With over 200 career Championship appearances and two promotions to the top flight under his belt, it is clear to see why both clubs are keen to bring him back to England as early as January.

With Leeds last season, he made 36 appearances for the Whites, offering competition in the middle of the park to the likes of Ao Tanaka, Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, and Josuha Guilavogui, only missing the final seven games of the season due to injury.

According to FotMob, Rothwell created the most chances per 90 minutes at Leeds last season, creating on average 2.4 chances per 90, slightly more than Manor Solomon and Brenden Aaronson.

Rothwell's ability to take set pieces is a real weapon and a huge bonus to his game, with his ability to put the ball 'on a fifty-pence piece' from distance making him a standout performer in the division.

Last season, nobody in the Championship created more chances from set plays than Rothwell, as, according to The Scottish Sun, he helped produce 43 chances for his team from free-kicks and corners, whilst only Jack Rudoni (5) of Coventry City was ahead of the Englishman (4) when it came to direct assists from set pieces.

Derby head coach John Eustace and Sheffield United head coach Chris Wilder will both no doubt have knowledge of the midfielder's ability from dead-ball scenarios, and would be looking to take advantage of that should they sign him. Rothwell set up goals for Pascal Struijk (Sheffield United) and Joe Rodon (Derby) to make up two of his four assists last season, whilst his delivery in Leeds' reverse fixture at Bramall Lane eventually set up a key goal for Tanaka against Wilder's side.

The Rams possess the likes of Dion Sanderson, Matt Clarke, Danny Batth, Sondre Langas, Carlton Morris, and Lars-Jorgen Salvesen, who are all capable of being aerially dominant, giving Rothwell, should he sign for Derby, plenty of options to pickout when he is on a dead-ball.

Sheffield United, on the other hand, have the likes of Mark McGuinness, Japhet Tanganga, and more recently, Patrick Bamford to aim for when it comes to set-piece scenarios, with Wilder no doubt regretting the club's sale of Kieffer Moore during the summer, who would have been a prime target for Rothwell.

Wilder may well head into the January window looking to add more height to his side, having largely preferred taller number nines during his time in management, with both David McGoldrick and Oli McBurnie proving effective under his watch, and should they sign Rothwell, the Blades boss will be looking to use the Englishman's set-piece prowess to great effect.

Joe Rothwell would be an excellent addition for either Derby County or Sheffield United

Derby signed 13 players during the summer window, as Eustace stamped his authority on the Rams squad.

However, the Rams have blown hot and cold this season thus far, winning one of their opening ten, before winning six of their following seven, and currently one in their last five.

This sees them sit in 12th place in the Championship table, as Eustace looks to the January window for some more recruits to his side, with Rothwell emerging as an option.

Having been dismissed following their play-off final defeat to Sunderland last season, Wilder was brought back to Sheffield United promptly after the sacking of Ruben Selles.

Wilder did not have the luxury of a transfer window, and has been dealt with the tools he has been provided, but has signed both Patrick Bamford and Jairo Riedewald on free transfers since his return.

The Sheffield United gaffer is now seemingly weighing up a move for Rothwell this January to provide competition for the likes of Riedewald, Sydie Peck, Djibril Soumare, and Ollie Arblaster.

With Rothwell, Wilder will be well aware of his ability and will be hoping to strike a deal with the Scottish side to bring him to Bramall Lane this winter as the Blades look to rescue their dreadful start to the season.