Derby County backed to take Ipswich Town transfer "risk" | OneFootball

FLW's Derby County fan pundit wants the club to acquire Ali Al-Hamadi from Ipswich Town

This article is part of Football League World’s 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Derby County have been encouraged to act upon their significant transfer interest and secure a January deal for Ipswich Town frontman Ali Al-Hamadi as Paul Warne strives to address his side's goalscoring issues.

The Rams have enjoyed a generally solid return to life in the Championship after sealing promotion from League One at the second time of asking last term.

Having been widely tipped to struggle against relegation, Derby have spent much of the season to date in mid-table and currently do not appear in any serious danger of the drop, although just two victories from their last eleven matches suggests a big January window is on the horizon to prevent that threat from growing in the back-end of the campaign.

As ever, Warne's Derby side have been fairly organised and resolute defensively - the 4-2 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday exposed cracks, it must be said - though there are more concerns towards the top-end of the pitch. Of Warne's squad, only Jerry Yates (6) and Ebou Adams (4) have scored more than three league goals.

So there is a natural worry about where the goals are going to be sourced away from Swansea City loanee Yates, and that's why Derby have been urged to sign another striker this month.

Derby County's transfer interest in Ipswich Town's Ali Al-Hamadi

According to a report from DerbyshireLive, the forward areas are "undoubtedly under consideration" as Warne looks to get to work in the market in January. The report described Derby as "huge admirers" of Al-Hamadi, who is being monitored closely ahead of a potential departure from Portman Road.

Al-Hamadi, who made his name in League Two with AFC Wimbledon before earning a move to Ipswich Town last January, played a role in the Tractor Boys' promotion to the Premier League by scoring four goals despite starting just once, though opportunities have proved even harder to come by at top-flight level.

The 22-year-old striker has played just 123 minutes of football across 10 Premier League appearances, none of which have been starts, and he's yet to add to his account this term. Al-Hamadi finds himself behind impressive England youth international Liam Delap in Kieran McKenna's pecking order, but Ipswich are thin on the ground in that area of the pitch and it could mean he stays put beyond January.

It's not yet clear just what stance Ipswich have when it comes to Al-Hamadi, but in terms of his career progression at the minute, he does need a loan move elsewhere - ideally back to the Championship - and should the Suffolk outfit decide to green-light that outcome, then you can only imagine Derby will face competition from a host of divisional rivals.

Derby County, Paul Warne encouraged to sign Ipswich Town's Ali Al-Hamadi

With Derby's interest in mind, we asked our resident Rams fan pundit, Shaun Woodward, whether Al-Hamadi should be Warne's number-one target or if a move could potentially be unrealistic due to Ipswich's shortage of striking options and the role he has appearing from the bench.

Shaun acknowledged the risk element of signing a player predominantly versed in League Two to lead the line at Championship level, but he does believe Al-Hamadi would be an upgrade on the existing options behind Yates.

"He looks a talent," Shaun told Football League World.

"He's young, he scored quite a few goals at League Two level and played a dozen games last season in the Championship for Ipswich and scored a few goals, but it's hard to really know what his level is right now.

"He's come on a few times for Ipswich in the Premier League and hasn't scored yet, which is no surprise because it's a big step-up from what he's used to playing at, but at this rate I would take anybody.

"I mean it's clear to me and most of the fans that the likes of (James) Collins, (Conor) Washington and (Dajuane) Brown aren't good enough for the Championship. Hopefully Brown will be one day, but right now he's not and the others are past it, so we desperately need somebody to come in and support Yates.

"So if Paul Warne thinks he's good enough and can come in and make us better then I would support it, totally. But it is a bit of an unknown, so do you go for somebody who is already tried and tested at this level or somebody who could come in and be amazing but could be a flop too?