Derby County must seal deal for ex-West Brom ace despite clear financial hurdle | OneFootball

Derby County must look to sign former West Brom striker Josh Maja this summer despite Watford's financial baulk

Derby County will be aiming to build upon the positive year they have just endured in the Championship next time around, as head coach John Eustace continues to stamp his authority on the Rams squad with some important additions.

Having only narrowly survived relegation in 2025 by the skin of their teeth, Derby enjoyed a much more positive campaign last time around, climbing all the way to eighth.

Heading into the final game of the season, the Rams stood a chance of breaking into the play-off places, though their 2-1 home defeat to Sheffield United crushed those chances.

Nevertheless, most Derby supporters will be pleased with their side's progression in just one year under Eustace, and should they achieve the same finish next time around, a play-off spot will be theirs.

Bobby Clark's £6 million move from RB Salzburg and Charlie Taylor's free signing remain the only additions thus far this window, though Eustace almost certainly won't be done just yet, with interest in Manchester City forward Divin Mubama indicating his desire for another centre-forward.

A deal for Mubama was reported to have been close over two weeks ago now, but has since gone cold, as Eustace should turn his attentions elsewhere for a player who has recently become a free agent.

Derby County should plot a move for Josh Maja despite Watford's wage demand baulking

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With a deal for Mubama seemingly having gone cold, Derby should look to turn their attentions elsewhere.

The Rams likely cannot afford to continue splashing the cash unless a big sale is made, as Eustace should continue to look in the free agent market following the addition of Taylor.

Taylor, 32, made 28 appearances on loan at West Bromwich Albion last season from Southampton before his release, as each of Karlan Grant, Jed Wallace, Daryl Dike, and Josh Maja have all left the Baggies at the end of their deals.

Grant has returned to Charlton Athletic, Wallace has joined Bristol City, and Dike has headed back to Orlando in the MLS, as Maja remains the only one without a club, for now, as Derby should look to change that.

Maja, 27, came through the youth ranks of Fulham, Manchester City, and Sunderland, making a name for himself with the latter, before heading to France with Bordeaux.

Spells on loan with Fulham and Stoke City followed prior to returning to English football permanently with West Brom in 2023, where he has gone on to score 19 and assist three in 81 games for the club.

The once-capped Nigerian international scored just four goals in 40 Championship appearances in the most recent campaign, struggling to find a consistent place in the starting 11 with Dike and Aune Heggebo as competition.

However, he would hit 12 goals and two assists in just 26 games the season prior, averaging a goal contribution every other game, and displaying his capability as a top-level Championship forward.

With Derby on the hunt for another centre-forward following their interest in Mubama, they should turn their attentions to Maja instead, although his wage demands may prove to be a stumbling block.

As per Sky Sports' Anthony Joseph, Watford looked at a deal for the striker this summer, but were put off by his wage demands.

With each of Carlton Morris, Patrick Agyemang, Rhian Brewster, and Lars-Jorgen Salvesen capable of playing up top for Derby, it's unlikely that Maja would arrive and instantly be Eustace's main man, and would therefore struggle to justify his seemingly hefty wage demands.

Nevertheless, at 27, he ought to be in and around the prime of his career, and should he be made the main man somewhere, he could thrive and easily hit double digits next season.

Derby's pursuit of Mubama, for now, has hit a brick wall, but an alternative in the form of Maja, on a free transfer, ought to be an attractive proposition, and if he were to subsidise his wage demands, he could be an incredible pickup for the Rams and would provide strong competition up top for the likes of Morris and Salvesen.

John Eustace should consider a Josh Maja swoop for Derby County after Divin Mubama silence

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Eustace will be keen to add some attacking talent to Derby's roster this summer, especially following the departures of Ben Brereton Diaz, Sammie Szmodics, and Jaydon Banel after the end of their loan spells.

Agyemang almost certainly won't be fully fit when the new season arrives, having ruptured his Achilles towards the end of the season, and an alternative to the USMNT forward will also be a necessity.

Maja, on a free transfer, will likely be an attractive option for numerous Championship clubs, including Derby, with only his wage demands a hurdle to evade.

The Nigerian ought to be a high priority for the Rams this summer, as Eustace would be remiss to not discuss a deal to bring Maja to Pride Park.