Celtic, Rangers in transfer battle for £1.7m Derby County ace | OneFootball

Derry Murkin is already attracting interest despite only moving to DE24 last month

Derby County have made several shrewd transfers this season which has enabled a push towards the Championship play-off places in John Eustace's first full season as Rams boss.

Whilst there has been continued talk over a potential change in terms of the sourcing of investment, with David Clowes still currently chairman at Pride Park, the East Midlands side haven't been distracted by any talk relating to such matters.

After narrowly consolidating in the Championship on the final day of last season following their automatic promotion from League One in May 2024, Derby are now amongst a cluster of clubs who still harbour ambitions of featuring in fifth and sixth in the play-off picture.

A 1-0 success against relegation-threatened Portsmouth on Monday night saw them close the gap on Wrexham to just three points, with Sammie Szmodics netting his 100th career goal in the process, and a crucial one in terms of the Rams' season as a whole.

With eight matches still to play, they are now just three points outside the top six and have a first play-off campaign for seven years in their sights, having previously regressed due to financial difficulties after their most recent appearance in the play-off final against Aston Villa in May 2019.

In truth, it has been the summer additions and attacking duo, Patrick Agyemang and Carlton Morris, who have made plenty of headlines as a result of their goalscoring form.

However, in January, Derby were able to add five new players to a squad already packed with experience. One of those came in the form of left-back, Derry Murkin.

Yet, despite only being a part of the Pride Park ranks for less than two months, the 26-year-old could potentially be on the move, with Old Firm rivals, Celtic and Rangers already reportedly locked in a battle for his signature.

Derby County's Derry Murkin attracting Old Firm transfer battle ahead of summer

The full-back has played just seven times for the Rams since his reported £1.7m switch from Eredivisie club, FC Utrecht, on Deadline Day, but his impact has certainly been rather immediate.

Murkin has already provided two assists in black and white, with both of those coming in the 3-1 success against Eustace's former side, Blackburn Rovers, on February 21st.

Ironically, his spell with Utrecht also lasted just a matter of months after his switch from FC Schalke 04 last May, but he racked up 22 appearances for the Dutch side, with seven of those coming in the UEFA Europa League.

Adding to the irony, Murkin's second-to-last appearance for Utrecht came against Celtic in a 4-2 win for the Hoops on January 29th, with FootballFanCast now reporting that Martin O'Neill's side are currently in front of the Light Blues in a potential transfer battle for his signature.

Both clubs are looking to strengthen their left-back options this summer, with Rangers' Emmanuel Fernandez a reported target for West Ham, whilst Celtic have been linked

Derby County will hope to deter Celtic, Rangers interest in Derry Murkin

Having only played a handful of games for the club, it is a testament to Murkin's performance levels that he is already attracting suitors ahead of what could be a third transfer in 12 months on a personal level.

Unsurprisingly, though, those of a Rams persuasion will hope that he is able to find a 'long-term home' at the club and help their upward trajectory continue.

Furthermore, it also remains to be seen what Eustace's plans with the left-back position are come the summer, with Murkin's main source of natural competition, Callum Elder, currently injured and out-of-contract on June 30th.