Derby County set to beat West Ham and Rangers to £6m transfer | OneFootball

Derby County are set to beat West Ham and Rangers to the signing of a top target in a deal worth around £6 million this summer...

Derby County had an excellent season in 2025/26 under John Eustace's tutelage, with players like Patrick Agyemang, Carlton Morris, and Bobby Clark shining as they finished eighth.

It's fair to say Derby County head into the 2026/27 campaign in a far stronger position than many would have expected just two years ago. After finishing 19th in the Championship immediately following promotion from League One, the Rams took a huge step forward under John Eustace in 2025/26.

An eighth-place finish represented significant progress, even if missing out on the play-offs on the final day was a bitter disappointment. Nevertheless, there is plenty for the club to be proud of. Derby established themselves as genuine contenders in the top half, showed remarkable consistency throughout the campaign and now have a platform from which to push on again.

With Eustace at the helm, and with two extra play-off spots, there is every reason for optimism heading into the new season. However, they need additions in the market and players like Bobby Clark were a major reason for that progress and only at Pride Park on loan.

Derby County set to win the race for Bobby Clark

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Outstanding throughout the campaign, he provided so much quality, but also energy and creativity in midfield. In an ideal world, securing a permanent deal for the former Liverpool youngster should be one of Derby's biggest priorities this summer.

He featured in a variety of midfield roles after signing on loan for 2025/26 from Red Bull Salzburg, with the 21-year-old scoring four and assisting three in 45 appearances in all competitions for the Rams.

Back in August 2024, he left Anfield for Salzburg in a £10 million switch to reunite with Pep Lijnders, with The Guardian reporting that Liverpool had a 17.5% sell-on fee as well.

Clark was named as Derby County's Jack Stamps Young Player of the Season at Derby's end-of-season awards night and West Ham United's recent interest in Clark was seen as a "massive blow" recently.

Rangers have also lurked around Clark but it appears as though Derby are set to sign the midfielder permanently, with John Percy of The Telegraph providing the latest update on his future this summer.

He states that Derby are close to agreeing a deal worth around £6 million with Salzburg for midfielder Clark. The club is hopeful of the 21-year-old undergoing a medical later this week if talks continue to advance.

Derby County have a clear and obvious recruitment model

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Derby's recruitment strategy has naturally evolved since their promotion-winning League One campaign. At that stage, experienced players were required to help deliver immediate success and cope with the demands of a promotion race.

However, the Rams have increasingly targeted younger talent since returning to the Championship, with a view to lowering the average age of the squad and building for the future.That approach, naturally, brings several benefits.

Younger players often possess greater development potential and can improve alongside the club as Derby aim to establish themselves as promotion contenders. Just as importantly, they can become valuable assets.

Developing and eventually selling players for significant fees would provide Derby with an important revenue stream, helping them remain competitive and sustainable in the Championship in the long-term. Either angle is where Clark slots in, having excelled in 2025/26.