What David Datro Fofana's salary at Chelsea is as Derby County and Celtic chase transfer | OneFootball

David Datro Fofana looks set to leave Chelsea permanently this January, with Derby County and Celtic interested

Derby County face competition from Celtic for the signature of David Datro Fofana this January, with the Chelsea forward set to leave Stamford Bridge permanently this month.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano via X, Derby are one of a number of clubs, including Celtic and Royal Antwerp, who are interested in signing Ivorian forward Datro Fofana this winter.

Currently plying his trade on loan in Turkey with Fatih Karagumruk, the 23-year-old is on his fourth separate loan spell away from the Blues, and having failed to make an impression in either of them, his time with the club appears to be up.

Datro Fofana burst onto the scene with Norwegian outfit Molde, drawing attention from both Brighton and Hove Albion and Chelsea, choosing the latter in an £8 million-£10 million deal.

Though since signing for Chelsea, he has made just three league appearances for the club, instead spending his time out on loan with the likes of Union Berlin, Burnley, Goztepe, and, now, Fatih Karagumruk.

Chelsea now appear to be eager to clear his name from their books this winter, with a move to the Championship with Derby emerging as a real possibility.

How much David Datro Fofana earns at Chelsea as Derby County and Celtic circle

Derby had an extraordinarily busy summer under boss John Eustace, bringing in 13 new additions to the squad, and despite just one win in their opening ten league games, have recovered to climb towards a mid-table position at this stage.

Nevertheless, the Rams, like many other sides in the division, will harness ambitions of a play-off finish this campaign, with Eustace keen to make even more additions to strengthen their chances.

Datro Fofana has emerged as a potential target at Pride Park this winter, though his wages may prove to be a stumbling block in any deal this month.

According to Capology, the Ivorian reportedly earns £30k-per-week at Chelsea, with his current term in West London running until the summer of 2029.

This may prove to be a problem for Derby, whose current top earners are both Ben Brereton Diaz and Carlton Morris, earning around £25k-per-week, as per Capology.

If the Ivorian is unwilling to reduce his wage demands, then the only way Derby could seal this transfer would be to make him the club's highest-paid player, something they are unlikely to sanction.

Whether Derby would be willing to match his current Chelsea terms, or whether Datro Fofana would be willing to reduce his wage terms, remains to be seen, but the Rams remain interested in bringing the 23-year-old to Pride Park this winter.

Indeed, Derby sit just six points outside the play-off places as things stand, with a place in the top-six well within their reach.

After a busy summer rebuild by Eustace, Rams supporters may have been expecting slightly better from their side at this stage, though they have massively improved in comparison to the last campaign.

Should Datro Fofana indeed join the club, he will have to compete with the likes of Morris, Brereton Diaz, Patrick Agyemang, Lars-Jorgen Salvesen, Andreas Weimann and Rhian Brewster for a place in the side.

A starting berth at Pride Park is therefore not guaranteed, and whether Fofana would be willing to make the step down to the Championship and fight for a place in the side remains to be seen.

Nevertheless, Derby's ambition of a play-off finish is clear, and the capture of the Ivorian would likely only increase those chances, though they will have to fend off competition for his signature first.