Derby County should win race to sign ex-Ipswich Town player to remedy Koki Saito, QPR transfer blow | OneFootball

With Koki Saito now at QPR, Derby County should win the race for Chesterfield's Armando Dobra

Derby County should try win the race for Chesterfield's Armando Dobra after losing out on Koki Saito to QPR.

After a whirlwind summer for the Japanese international, Saito, has finally put pen to paper after being heavily linked with an array of Championship clubs including Derby County and Birmingham City, before deciding on a return to Loftus Road.

Saito spent last season on loan with the Hoops where he made 39 league appearances, finding the net three times and providing two assists.

He will be welcomed back to the club by the QPR faithful after a difficult start to the season, and will hope that their now-permanent signing can pick up where he left off in West London.

As for Derby County, with a deal to land their main target Saito now off the table, they should now turn their attention to ex-Ipswich Town man Armando Dobra.

Dobra is currently contracted to League Two side, Chesterfield, until 2028, and has been subject to plenty of transfer speculation with the Rams showing a key interest in the forward alongside seven other EFL clubs, according to Pete O'Rourke via X.

With time running out to strike a deal, and Saito now not a possibility, Dobra would be a strong alternative and Derby therefore should look at winning the race for the Albanian's signature.

Derby County should win race for Armando Dobra despite heavy interest

Chesterfield's Dobra has sought to impress many clubs throughout the EFL, after a few starring seasons in League Two, which has highlighted his proven ability to play at a higher level.

After coming through the Ipswich academy system, the Albanian has found his form in the fourth tier, where he has made 136 appearances for The Spireites, and in that time, scored 36 goals and provided 15 assists.

With his creative ability being at the forefront of Dobra's attributes, his versatility is another key part of the 24-year-old's game, as he can play on the left-wing as well as through the middle in Chesterfield boss, Paul Cook's side. A factor that will surely impress John Eustace.

Derby County have made it clear in their transfer window that, due to injuries and the need for reinforcements in attacking areas, bringing in a left-winger is vital.

With Saito now at QPR, the possibility of Dobra at Pride Park is just what the Rams are crying out for.

With Corey Blackett-Taylor out injured in their opening day loss against Stoke City, bringing in Dobra's tricky ability to carve out chances in wide and central areas is just the profile of player that Eustace needs.

The potential link-up with their new star striker, Carlton Morris, is something that Derby fans can get excited about, as Morris has proven that if you give him a chance, more often than not, he'll find the finishing touch.

Armando Dobra has hit the ground running for Chesterfield

With there now less than a week remaining of the transfer window upon its closure on 1st September, time to get players in the door for Rams boss Eustace, is quickly running out.

Having been hit with injury concerns all over the pitch in the early stages of the season, Derby's depleted squad has stressed the importance of bringing in a couple of new names to Pride Park.

With Dobra being one of the main candidates, the Albanian international has certainly hit the ground running for Derby's close neighbours. Dobra has already got two goals to his name in five appearances, including a late strike at home to Bristol Rovers to round off a hard-fought 3-1 win.

It's not only this season, however, that Dobra has found his form as interest arose in the 24-year-old after his high performance levels last season where he reached double digits for goals last year.

Eustace has been ever-changing his forward line in the opening weeks of the season with Morris remaining to be the only constant. The possibility of Dobra's arrival would create healthy competition for places, and if he is to keep up his impressive form seen in League Two, you'd think that the 24-year-old would slot into the Derby attack.