Exclusive: Derby County backed to sign "dependable" Hull City star | OneFootball

David Prutton has given his view on reports linking Derby County with a move for Hull City midfielder Regan Slater.

Pundit David Prutton believes Hull City midfielder Regan Slater would be a good signing for Derby County amid reports linking him with a summer move to Pride Park.

Slater initially joined Hull on loan from Sheffield United in September 2020, and after helping them to the League One title during his temporary spell, he returned to the club on a permanent basis in January 2022.

The decision to re-sign Slater certainly paid off for the Tigers, and after enjoying the best season of his career in the 2022-23 campaign, he was voted Player of the Year by both supporters and his team-mates.

Slater could not quite reach the same numbers last season as he scored just two goals, but he remained an important part of the team as Hull narrowly missed out on the play-offs under Liam Rosenior, and he has been a regular starter once again this term in what has been a disappointing campaign for the East Yorkshire outfit as they battle against the drop.

According to Sportsboom, Slater is attracting interest from former club Sheffield United ahead of the summer transfer window, as well as Middlesbrough, Stoke City and Derby, and the 25-year-old is said to be "likely to consider his options" if the Tigers are relegated this season.

David Prutton reacts to Regan Slater, Derby County talk

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Prutton said that Slater should not be blamed for Hull's struggles this season, and he believes the midfielder could help Derby to consolidate in the Championship given his experience at the level.

"Having spoken to lots of people connected with Hull City over the past couple of seasons, he's a dependable part of the squad," Prutton said.

"At a club that has seen quite a lot of change, he, Lewie Coyle and a couple of others have been the consistencies.

"The finger that would be pointed at him is that he was part of a team that was challenging for the top six last season, but they are battling to avoid the bottom three this season.

"Sometimes peripheral forces can mean that you end up in a position such as this.

"I think what Derby want from this season is safety, but what they want next season is progression under John Eustace, and the experience of Regan Slater in the Championship could help consolidate that."

After impressing for Hull in the Championship in recent years, Prutton is right that Slater would be a solid addition for Derby in the summer, but it would arguably be a sideways move to swap the MKM Stadium for Pride Park.

The Tigers and the Rams are currently battling against each other to avoid relegation to League One, so for John Eustace's side to have any chance of signing Slater, they must still be a second tier club next season.

Even if Derby stay up at Hull's expense, it may still be difficult for them to convince Slater to join, particularly as he has interest from sides that could offer him bigger wages, such as Middlesbrough and Stoke, while his former club Sheffield United could even give him the opportunity to play in the Premier League.