John Eustace can strike Derby County transfer gold in January 2026 | OneFootball

The Rams are looking at the next forward off the Louie Barry production line

Derby County are said to be considering a move for Stockport County attacker Jack Diamond.

As revealed exclusively by Football League World, the Rams are said to be one of a number of Championship clubs weighing up a move for the 25-year-old.

Diamond has been impressive for the Hatters so far this season, notching both goals and assists as the Greater Manchester outfit as they seek promotion to the second tier of English football.

Not only could he be a smart purchase for Derby, he’d also offer something the club currently don’t have at their disposal.

Derby County showing interest in Stockport County’s Jack Diamond

It was reported exclusively by Football League World late last week that Derby are one of numerous second-tier clubs considering a move for Diamond.

The former Sunderland man has been a key figure at Edgeley Park this season, as the club once again battle for promotion in the third tier.

He is receiving interest from Derby ahead of the January transfer window, but could find themselves in something of a bidding war with plenty of teams interested.

Diamond still has 18 months to run on his current deal with Dave Challinor’s side, so a fee would be required for any clubs intent on landing the signing in the middle of the current campaign.

Jack Diamond would offer something unique to Derby County

Derby are going relatively well in the Championship, with inconsistent form sandwiching an earlier five-match winning streak in October and November.

They’re also having few issues in the attacking department, with Carlton Morris already on double figures for goals before his injury, Patrick Agyemang not too far behind him and Ben Brereton-Diaz and Rhian Brewster also in the squad.

But what they do lack is a penetrating dribbler with a quick turn of pace, a skill gap that Diamond would fill precisely.

The former Sunderland prospect was somewhat swallowed up by the shadow of Louie Barry during his start at Edgeley Park, but has come into his own since he has been the primary dribbler at the club, as shown by his stats so far this season.

He is by no means the finished product, with him still occasionally holding on to the ball for a little too long, and sometimes prone to making a poor decision, but they are both coachable elements. His raw abilities are without question.

In terms of chance creation, Diamond is behind only former Sheffield United man Ollie Norwood and Derby’s own Ben Osborn, currently on loan with Hatters.

The Rams could use a creative spark to aid the finishing abilities of the likes of Agyemang and Brereton-Diaz, and Diamond could be perfect for that role.

A sale of Jack Diamond could be smart business for Stockport County too

As good as Diamond has been – and he would certainly be a miss if he left – many would argue that Kyle Wootton and Norwood have been more crucial to the Hatters’ attack.

The League One club signed Diamond on a free transfer from Sunderland in the summer of 2024, on a three-year contract that will expire in the summer of 2027.

In the middle of the season, with over a year left on his deal, this is arguably Stockport’s best chance at netting a considerable fee for the winger, while he’s found his best form since joining.

Owner Mark Stott has spoken of the need to sign cheap and sell high to get the club on a strong financial footing for a potential Championship challenge further down the road, so the club must be open to selling when the time, and the price, is right.

Losing Diamond at this point in the season is not ideal from a footballing perspective, but it could be smart business, and would provide Derby with a player profile they could really use.