Derby County should be moving for ex-Charlton Athletic midfielder following contract U-turn: View | OneFootball

The Rams should be targeting a newly available midfielder to add to their squad

This week has seen Derby County get their business up and running for the 2024 summer transfer window.

Following their promotion from League One back to the Championship at the end of last season, the Rams are now preparing for life back in the second-tier.

Paul Warne's side have now made their first three signings of the summer as they look to do that, which started with the addition of Ben Osborn following his exit from Sheffield United.

Since then, the club have seemingly been hard at work to boost their options in the centre forward role.

Kayden Jackson has joined on a free transfer from Ipswich Town, while Jerry Yates has signed on a season-long loan deal from another Championship side, in the form of Swansea City.

However, there are plenty more positions in their squad that Derby County still need to address before the season begins, and even with the signing of Osborn one of those is central midfield.

Derby County are short on midfield options going into 2024-25 sason

There have been a number of departures from Pride Park already this summer, that have left Warne short on options in the centre of midfield.

Conor Hourihane, Korey Smith and Louie Sibley have all departed following the expiration of their contracts with the club.

Meanwhile, Ebou Adams has also returned to parent club Cardiff City for now, after an excellent spell on loan with Derby in the second-half of last season, as has Max Bird to Bristol City following his mid-season transfer to Ashton Gate and subsequent loan back.

As a result, despite the addition of Osborn to their ranks, Warne's side are still lacking in numbers in the middle of the pitch, in comparison to the 2023/24 campaign.

So with that in mind, there is an argument that Derby ought to now be looking into a move for a former Charlton player, who finds his future up in the air after the collapse of a move elsewhere.

Ex-Charlton Athletic midfielder George Dobson would be a good addition at Pride Park

Back in February, it was announced that George Dobson would be leaving Charlton at the end of the campaign, when his contract at The Valley expired.

It was also confirmed at that point that the midfielder would be making the move to Hungary this summer, to join top-flight side Fehervar.

However, that switch will now not be happening, with it being reported that the club and Dobson have mutually agreed to terminate his contract for personal reasons before it even began.

As a result, the 26-year-old is now a free agent, and that is something Derby surely ought to be looking to take advantage of.

It has already been mentioned that Warne's side are in need of some extra options in the centre of the park, and Dobson is one who can help to fill that role.

Indeed, he had been something of a standout performer in League One for Charlton over the past three years, having joined from Sunderland back in the summer of 2021.

A consistently reliable presence in the centre of the park, Dobson even performed well enough to be handed the captain's armband at The Valley.

Having produced in such impressive style during his time there as a solid shield in front of the backline, it does feel as though after many years in the third-tier, he is ready for the Championship.

That could make him a useful addition for a team in need of midfield reinforcements such as Derby, especially given the leadership he provides is another welcome attribute for the Rams to draw on.

The fact he is now available on a free transfer following the collapse of would also help the Pride Park club, since it reduces the level of spending that would be required to complete this deal.

In turn, that keeps more funds available for Warne and co. to complete other business they will no doubt want to complete before the market closes.