Derby County face Hull City hurdle if they want £5m transfer | OneFootball

Derby County have been linked with a permanent move for David Ozoh

Derby County are facing competition from the likes of Hull City in the race to sign David Ozoh on a permanent basis.

According to Football Insider, the Rams are keen on a deal for the midfielder after his loan spell with the club last season.

However, a deal with Crystal Palace will be far from straightforward at this stage, with just a few weeks remaining in the transfer window.

The midfielder made the move to Pride Park last summer on a temporary basis, and he proved a key part of John Eustace’s first team squad.

The 21-year-old made 33 appearances in the Championship as Derby finished eighth in the table, missing out on a top six finish by just four points.

The Tigers instead finished sixth under Sergej Jakirovic, and they went on to win promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs.

Derby County face competition in David Ozoh transfer chase

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It’s believed that Derby are keen to sign Ozoh on a permanent basis this summer, but they are not alone in showing an interest in the Palace player.

Newly-promoted Hull are among the clubs chasing his signature as they prepare for life in the top flight.

Marseille and Nice have shown an interest in signing Ozoh as well, but no agreement has yet been reached with the Eagles.

It was reported earlier this week that Palace are seeking £5 million in any deal to sell the midfielder.

But it’s also understood that Pierre Sage has yet to make a final decision on the player’s future, as he could yet break into his first team plans since taking over at Selhurst Park.

However, a sale is considered likely if their asking price can be met before the 1 September deadline.

How Derby County fans feel about David Ozoh chase

Some concerns have been raised by supporters regarding the £5 million price tag for Ozoh, particularly given his injury record.

Derby have been warned against spending so much on someone with his fitness history.

But other fans are quite excited by the prospect of bringing the midfielder back to Pride Park on a permanent basis.

And some fans have even dismissed concerns regarding the price tag, suggesting that the Rams have spent more on worse players in the past.

Derby begin their Championship campaign on 15 August with a trip to face Charlton Athletic.

Hull competition could scupper Derby’s David Ozoh plans

Hull have earned their place in the Premier League and that could be a big difference-maker in the race to sign Ozoh.

They can offer English top flight football, which will certainly be appealing to the midfielder if he isn’t going to get a look in at Palace next season.

While the Rams have an obvious advantage in knowing Ozoh well from his loan spell, the potential £5 million outlay would be quite a lot for the Championship side given the risks involved with his injury record.

There’s no doubt that the 21-year-old can have a big impact under Eustace if he stays fit, and he has room to grow and develop into a talent worth a lot more than £5 million, but the race for his signature is now far from straightforward.