Derby County eyeing 'bargain' move for Oxford United star | OneFootball

Belgian midfielder Brian De Keersmaecker could be heading to Pride Park this summer

It looks like Derby County are already thinking about their summer signings ahead of the transfer window opening on 15th June.

Given the Rams had five loan players on their books this past season - namely Bobby Clark, David Ozoh, Ben Brereton Diaz, Sam Szmodics and Jaydon Banel - work is perhaps expected to be done to replace any that John Eustace won't be able to bring back.

Eustace himself has already admitted that he'd love for them all to stay, but from a Derby perspective, that maybe seems a bit of a stretch, particularly with Crystal Palace youngster Ozoh.

In his second successive loan spell at Pride Park, Ozoh managed 23 more appearances than he did in 24/25, playing 35 times across all competitions.

From the quality the 21-year-old showed on the pitch, it's clear that Palace may want too much money if they decide to let him go, and now an Oxford United midfielder is being linked as his replacement.

Derby County preparing to 'open talks' for Oxford United midfielder

Considering Oxford United got relegated, you’d expect they are one such side expected to face interest in several of their best performers, and Derby appear to be among the clubs monitoring that situation closely.

As, according to journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon, the Rams are ‘ready to open talks’ over a move for the U's Belgian midfielder Brian De Keersmaecker.

De Keersmaecker featured 28 times across all competitions before his campaign was cut short in January, contributing one goal and five assists from a defensive midfield role.

It was later reported in February that the Belgian underwent shoulder surgery and would miss the rest of the season.

However, it's fair to say that when he did play, the 26-year-old impressed in his first season in English football after joining from Eredivisie side Heracles Almelo for a fee believed to exceed £1m.

Nixon states that Derby could get him in a 'bargain' deal. Clearly, this could be a similar situation to when Eustace's side managed to sign Carlton Morris on the cheap following Luton Town's relegation last summer.

Brian De Keersmaecker could be Derby County's David Ozoh replacement

After Oxford beat Bristol City away in September, then-U’s boss Gary Rowett highlighted De Keersmaecker’s potential after a standout display.

Rowett told the Western Telegraph, "Brian De Keersmaecker has the ability to be a top player. We watched him a lot before signing him and today he gave a complete performance.

Adding, "He had injury problems at the start of the season, but since then has shown glimpses of what he can do. This was his best game and there is much more to come from him."

From these words, you can already imagine Eustace getting the best out of the Belgian next season if the move did happen.

Also from the aforementioned report by Nixon, Derby are apparently 'keen' on signing a similar type of midfielder to Ozoh, so it doesn't seem like the Palace man is coming back for a third time - at least not at this stage anyway.

So, if Derby can secure the Oxford midfielder at a reduced fee like Nixon suggests, this could prove to be one of the more astute pieces of business in the Championship this summer, but his injury record does look worrying on paper.