Why Celtic and Rangers want Derby County star - there are surely 3 reasons | OneFootball

FLW takes a look at the three reasons why Celtic and Rangers are showing an interest in Derry Murkin.

Derry Murkin has had an excellent start to life in the Championship with Derby County, and after a slightly apprehensive start against Ipswich Town, he has quickly become one of John Eustace's most important players.

Signed for a reported £1.7m from Dutch side FC Utrecht in the January transfer window, the left-back has played in all but one game for the club since his arrival, and he provided two assists for his side during their 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers in February.

Born in Colchester but raised in the Netherlands, the defender is eligible to feature for both England and Holland internationally, but the 26-year-old did not receive a call-up for either during his younger years. Nevertheless, he is quickly making a name for himself in the Championship.

Now, a report from FootballFanCast has stated that Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers are showing a keen interest in Murkin, and Football League World has picked out three reasons why the Old Firm pair are looking at the Derby ace.

Derry Murkin has plenty of attacking threat

The modern-day full-back has been forced to adapt in recent years, and Murkin is a massive example of how important defenders can be to a team's attack. He is a player who loves getting forward, and he has linked up excellently with Patrick Agyemang, Rhian Brewster and Jaydon Banel on the left-wing.

His assists against Blackburn were a clear indication of how much quality he has in the final third of the pitch, with his cross to Brewster for his team's third goal absolutely pinpoint at an important time in the game. He helped secure all three points for Derby in their push for the play-offs.

This is an area of his game that both Celtic and Rangers will be well aware of. Given the fact that the two Glasgow outfits are consistently challenging at the very top of the Scottish division, they often find themselves on the front foot, rather than looking backwards and having a left-back who is comfortable in taking the ball forward is vital.

Derry Murkin already gained European experience before joining Derby County

Having players with experience in European competition is always vital for a team like Derby as they look to make strides up the English footballing pyramid, and this will only come in handy as they pursue a return to the Premier League, 18 years after relegation.

However, for sides such as Celtic and Rangers, it is arguably even more important. They will both likely be competing in Europe next season, and Murkin has already featured in the Europa League seven times, while also playing in qualifying rounds of the competition on five occasions.

Given the number of games that the Bhoys and Gers typically play in a single campaign, it is vital that they have plenty of options in each position, and the 26-year-old could play a very important role in helping them compete across different fronts.

Rangers and Celtic both have limited options at left-back right now

A third reason why both Celtic and Rangers may be pursuing a deal for Murkin in the summer transfer window is because both clubs have limited options in the left-back position right now.

Martin O'Neill's side has just Kieran Tierney as his sole permanent option in that role, with Marcelo Saracchi on loan from Boca Juniors until the end of the campaign. It is vital that a new player is found to provide cover at Celtic Park, and the 26-year-old could be that.

Similarly, Rangers have only Tuur Rommens on a permanent contract at left-back. Jayden Meghoma has been the main player in that position for Danny Rohl in 2025/26, but he will return to Brentford at the end of the season, and their German head coach will be looking for a replacement.