Derby County eyeing Huddersfield Town transfer swoop | OneFootball

Huddersfield Town midfielder Tom Iorpenda is on Derby County's transfer radar after a stint on loan at Notts County

Derby County are looking into a move for Huddersfield Town midfielder Tom Iorpenda, who is reaching somewhat of a crossroads at the Accu Stadium when it comes to his contract situation.

The 21-year-old is coming off the back of a fantastic season out on loan with League Two play-off winners Notts County, where he starred at Wembley in their 3-0 demolition job of Salford City back in May.

Prior to the promotion win, Iorpenda was rewarded for his efforts at Meadow Lane with two awards - the Fans' and Players' Player of the Season accolades after his performances for Martin Paterson's side.

Huddersfield Town facing Tom Iorpenda dilemma

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Iorpenda has returned to Huddersfield now though after his loan deal concluded, where he finds himself as one of many engine room options for head coach Martin Drury to consider as part of his options ahead of the League One season.

Ryan Ledson, David Kasumu, Ethan Brierley, Herbie Kane, Marcus McGuane and Antony Evans are the other current options in the middle of the park for Town, and with just one year remaining on his current deal, Iorpenda could be seen as saleable asset for chairman Kevin Nagle.

A product of the Brighton & Hove Albion academy prior to his move north to Huddersfield, Iorpenda's natural progression would now be a stint in League One with his current club - but could he instead be moving on to the Championship?

Derby County plotting Tom Iorpenda move

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According to a report from the Daily Mail, Derby County are actively pursuing a move for Iorpenda's services this summer.

And it is claimed that Iorpenda himself is keen to make the step up to play Championship football, despite only figuring two levels below that last season, where he notched three goals and seven assists.

Derby themselves have already added to their midfield options this summer, with Bobby Clark arriving from Red Bull Salzburg on a permanent basis after a successful loan stint at Pride Park during the 2025-26 campaign.

Aside from the ex-Liverpool playmaker, Derby aren't blessed with engine room options, with both Lewis Travis and Oscar Fraulo perhaps the only other first-team alternatives, with Kenzo Goudmijn not expected to be part of John Eustace's squad this season, and Liam Thompson linked with a move away already to Mansfield Town.

And it appears that John Eustace is looking to add Iorpenda to his options in the middle of the park, providing the hierarchy can agree a fee with Huddersfield.

Derby County transfer gamble on Tom Iorpenda could be worth every penny

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It isn't exactly known how much Huddersfield would want money-wise to part ways with Iorpenda this summer, but they'll surely be wanting a seven-figure sum and a sell-on clause given what he was doing for Notts County - albeit at a lower level.

Iorpenda has brief experience of the Championship with Huddersfield a few years ago, but has only played seven matches in the league above League Two level, which means it's hard to gauge the true level of his ability just now.

As we've seen though in the past 12 months, John Eustace has done well with players that are still developing towards their peak form, such as Bobby Clark and Patrick Agyemang at Derby, and there's no reason to think he could not get a similar level of development out of Iorpenda, if he were to make the move to Pride Park.

With a lack of depth as it currently stands in the midfield department, Derby would be wise to pursue this move further, and with Turki Alalshikh's investment deal on the brink of being accepted