'Exciting' Rotherham United verdict given as ex-Derby County star eyed - but 'I'd say be careful' | OneFootball

FLW's Rotherham fan pundit is intrigued by the reports linking Andreas Weimann to South Yorkshire, but is slightly hesitant, too

Rotherham United had a slightly slow start to the summer, but with Alex Bruce now at the helm, new Head of Football Steve McClaren can fully focus his time on bolstering the squad ahead of their League Two return.

And, according to an exclusive report by Football League World, he has his eye on a Championship veteran who is available on a free transfer after being let go by Derby County this summer.

Andreas Weimann may turn 35 before the new season begins, but there are plenty of thoughts that the Austrian would be a major coup for the fourth-tier new boys, who are eyeing him up.

The 34-year-old has close to 400 second-tier appearances, and over 100 in the Premier League, too. He's spent the last few seasons playing a supporting role in play-off-chasing sides in the Championship at West Brom, Blackburn Rovers and Derby, where he made 25 appearances last season before being loaned out to Rapid Vienna in January.

Now he's back in England and could be on his way to South Yorkshire, where he'd hope to be playing a role in a promotion-challenging campaign two divisions below where he may be used to.

Rotherham United fan pundit excited, but cautious over Andreas Weimann links

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Five seasons ago, Weimann finished joint-third in the Championship Golden Boot race while at Bristol City, scoring 22 times and adding 10 assists, too, for a side that finished 17th.

While there's no denying that the Austrian's career has peaked and is on the comedown, there's still expectation that he'd be one of the better strikers in League Two, if he were to join Rotherham this summer.

Tom Eyre, FLW's Millers fan pundit, feels that, even if those 32 goal contribution days are behind him, he'll still provide a lot of quality outside his goalscoring that would make him a brilliant get at this level.

"I think he's an excellent player. Someone who works hard, runs for the team and has an obvious quality about him," he said.

"It was only a few seasons ago that he scored 22 and got 10 assists in the Championship, so, you know, his best days maybe are behind him, but you can still get a lot out of him, especially at League Two level.

"He'll be a leader, someone who has been there, done that, and knows how to win. So I'd look forward to seeing if he can replicate his form, but it's yet to be seen if he can."

Indeed, Eyre is also approaching a potential move to the AESSEAL New York Stadium for Weimann with a bit of caution.

Just last year, a struggling Rotherham side picked up Duncan Watmore, three years after an eight-goal Championship campaign with just 16 starts for both Middlesbrough and Millwall. The 32-year-old would score no goals in 13 outings for the Millers, though, and announced his retirement after leaving this summer.

Nevertheless, links with players coming out of Championship clubs are, for a League Two side who need additions, very promising for the short-term future of the club this coming season, and the fan pundit believes that the presence of Steve McClaren will act in their favour when it comes to securing these targets.

"We had issues with Duncan Watmore, so I'd say be careful," Eyre continued.

"But Weimann is someone who, with Steve McClaren's pull, is the sort of calibre of player that Rotherham fans are expecting this summer. It's an exciting prospect."

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Even if Weimann doesn't find his way to Rotherham this summer, the reports that Steve McClaren is looking to use his influence to tempt players from higher divisions to come and play for them can only be a positive thing.

The Millers have lost a lot of players since the end of last season, and will need to be braced for at least one more, with Sam Nombe likely to be the subject of interest higher up the pyramid.

So, to balance some of the new signings who have experience at the level, such as Ossama Ashley and Jamie Jellis, with some veterans who have primarily played in the Championship, who Steve McClaren will know well, could provide a good base ahead of the season's opener at Cheltenham Town on August 15.

It's often difficult for recently relegated League One sides to stop the hangover and re-establish themselves in the new division, but with the calibre of players who may sign for Rotherham between now and September 1, Millers fans can perhaps start to feel a little excited for the new season ahead.