Derby County plot last-gasp transfer after Birmingham City U-turn | OneFootball

The Rams had been linked with Mohammed Fuseini earlier this summer and are now plotting a late swoop

Derby County are reportedly eyeing a last-gasp transfer swoop for Union Saint-Gilloise attacker, Mohammed Fuseini after Birmingham City opted to turn their attention to other deals.

That is according to Dominic Dietrich of BBC Derby - via X - as John Eustace looks to land a one-time summer target ahead of tonight's 11PM deadline.

It has been a disastrous start to the Championship season for the Rams, who have picked up just one point from a possible nine in the first three games of the season whilst also seeing a high-profile takeover from Saudi boxing tycoon, Turki Alalshikh, collapse.

However, the 46-year-old could still end the summer window with a crumb of positivity as he looks to add bodies to a squad lacking depth at the top end of the pitch due to injuries.

And they have now been handed a lifeline in their aims of doing that by Eustace's former club, whilst both sides are in league action tonight against Portsmouth and Southampton respectively.

Action Images

Fuseini, 24, has been the subject of transfer speculation throughout the summer window, having scored 15 times in 76 appearances for his current employers after arriving from SK Sturm Graz two summers ago.

Despite injury misfortune during his spell with USG, the versatile forward has helped the club to a Belgian Pro League title in said timeframe, and it was initially expected that he would join Birmingham after the West Midlands side agreed a loan with an option-to-buy deal, and that the two-time Ghana international was set for a medical at St. Andrew's.

However, Chris Davies' side have turned their full attention to the loan signing of Hull City's Liam Millar, who has since been spotted in B9 ahead of their clash with the Saints, leaving them to pull the plug on their pursuit of Fuseini.

As such, Derby are now eyeing a last-gasp raid, although it is unsure whether Fuseini could move to Pride Park on a loan or permanent basis.

Mohammed Fuseini would add strong versatility to Derby County's attack

Action Images

It has been suggested that Fuseini had initially been viewed as a strong transfer equivalent to Ibrahim Osman at Birmingham, which suggests that there was a plan for the attacker to be utilised on the left flank.

However, this is also an area of the pitch where Derby are short on depth, with Corey Blackett-Taylor featuring heavily in the campaign's opening weeks.

The Rams were also unsuccessful in a reunion with Ben Brereton-Diaz, but Fuseini could provide the spark Eustace's side have clearly been missing throughout August.

Mohammed Fuseini will hope to serve Birmingham City with transfer regret if Derby swoop

Action Images

It was claimed that Fuseini's main initial attraction to Birmingham was the club's promotion ambitions, which has clearly been a factor in some previous high-profile transfers.

However, with his move to B9 now dead in the water, the Ghanaian will hope to serve the club with a sense of transfer regret if he does move to the Championship in the coming hours.

He also wouldn't have to wait long to face off against Birmingham for Derby either, as the two sides face off at 12:30PM on Saturday, September 12th.