John Eustace is keen: Derby County must make Ipswich Town transfer move | OneFootball

Sammie Szmodics has struggled for form at Ipswich Town this season, but John Eustace could help save his season at Derby County.

Derby County have had a difficult winter period following an extraordinary end to October and start of November, with an injury to star striker Carlton Morris seeing goals dry up at Pride Park.

The Rams' home form has been a cause for concern all season, and following Sunday's 2-1 defeat at the hands of Wrexham, it's clear to see that John Eustace needs reinforcement through the door quickly to ensure that his team do not slip down the Championship table and into a relegation battle.

With just four wins to their name at home throughout 2025/26, bringing in fresh faces in the forward department will be a desire of supporters and their head coach may well just have one certain player at the forefront of his mind.

Having spent the last year-and-a-half at Ipswich Town, Sammie Szmodics has not quite hit the heights that he did at Blackburn Rovers during the 2023/24 campaign, and with Derby in the market for new stars, he may well be the perfect acquisition for Eustace and his Rams side.

Derby County must bring Sammie Szmodics in on loan in the January transfer window

The 30-year-old has made 13 appearances for the Tractor Boys in 2025/26, and is yet to find the back of the net or register an assist. However, he has started just seven of those games, with minutes limited for the Republic of Ireland international.

Injuries have been an issue for Szmodics, and, of course, this will be a cause for concern considering Derby's track record of injuries over the course of the last few seasons, but if a deal can be arranged, Pride Park would be the perfect place for the versatile attacker to get his season started.

A short-term loan would offer the Rams a quick fix for their attacking issues, while Ipswich will be keen to move on some of their less vital players this month as they target an instant return to the Premier League following relegation back to the Championship in 2024/25.

Once Morris returns, ensuring that he has somebody to supply him with chances will be vital, and Szmodics can do both that and find the back of the net himself and the two could quickly become one of the most dangerous forward lines in the second tier.

Derby County are showing an interest in Sammie Szmodics

There is no denying that Szmodics will see himself as a player who should be featuring towards the top end of the Championship, but with the 30-year-old struggling for form, a move to the East Midlands could be on the cards.

According to the East Anglian Daily Times, the Rams "would be among several suitors" if Ipswich decide to let the attacker move on in the January transfer window.

With Marcelino Nunez making the switch to the Tractor Boys from Norwich City in the summer, and Chuba Akpom providing ample support, Szmodics' future looks as though it may lie away from Portman Road and Pride Park could be the perfect home for him.

John Eustace knows how to get the best out of Sammie Szmodics

Although his time at Portman Road has not been the easiest, Eustace will be the perfect head coach to get Szmodics back to his very best after an excellent 2023/24 campaign working under the Derby boss at Blackburn Rovers.

The former Colchester United ace scored 27 goals in 44 Championship games as Rovers avoided relegation on the final day of the season in a 2-0 win against Leicester City.

Eustace allowed Szmodics to make the £11m switch to Ipswich later that summer, but he played just 20 times in the Premier League, scoring four goals and reuniting with his former manager feels like the natural next step.

At 30, there is still plenty of time for the forward to find his feet in the Championship once again, and with Derby in need of more attacking threat, it looks like a match made in heaven.