Derby County transfer news: Kaide Gordon interest, Koki Saito, Lewis Travis saga | OneFootball

FLW rounds up the recent transfer news at Pride Park

It hasn't been an ideal start to the season on the pitch for Derby County and John Eustace, although the club remains one of the most active Championship clubs in the summer transfer market.

In what is the 45-year-old's first full season since taking the reins at Pride Park in February, Derby have made a total of 10 acquisitions, whilst plenty of names have also departed the East Midlands outfit since the end of last campaign as the Rams look to continue pushing up the second tier table after a 19th place finish.

As we approach the latter stages of the window, clubs can often become desperate in a bid to land their prime targets and bulk out their squad between now and January, and Derby are seemingly no exception to the rule as a plethora of players remain linked with moves to DE24 on a permanent or loan basis.

With that in mind, FLW has rounded up the latest transfer news concerning the Rams.

Derby County face battle in move for Liverpool ace Kaide Gordon

According to the Athletic, Liverpool are weighing up loan options for Kaide Gordon alongside other young Anfield stars, with Derby interested in a temporary move for the 20-year-old alongside divisional rivals, Swansea City.

It remains to be seen which club is leading the race to secure the forward's services at present, but it would represent somewhat of a full-circle situation after he departed the East Midlands club in 2021 for Merseyside for £1m, just weeks after making his senior debut for the club with a 1-minute cameo under Wayne Rooney in a 4-0 away win at Birmingham City.

Since then, Gordon has made a further 15 appearances in the second tier in underwhelming loan spells with Norwich City and Portsmouth, but has also made seven senior appearances for Liverpool under the management of former boss, Jürgen Klopp.

Lee Hendrie issues "exciting" Koki Saito verdict as Derby County agree fee

Another potential statement signing for Derby is that of Koki Saito, who excelled on loan at Queens Park Rangers last term.

It was recently reported by Mike McGrath that the Rams' bid for the Japanese playmaker matched Lommel SK's valuation, and that the deal is now in the final stages as the club hold talks with the 24-year-old's entourage.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie expects Saito to have a positive impact on Derby's new-look attack, which has already scored four goals in two games despite accumulating no points.

"They’ve made a hell of a lot of signings this summer, and it’s just a matter of time before it all gels," he said.

"I just think [he offers] that craft and flair in midfield, which they need at the moment," Hendrie stated.

"When you think the likes of Birmingham, who are one of the favourites to go up this season, would easily be attractive.

"But I think the fact he probably will get more game time at Derby County - he might be a little gem they might bring in."

Saito registered three goals and three assists whilst on loan at Loftus Road last term, and according to another previous update from the aforementioned McGrath, is valued in the ballpark of £5m.

Lewis Travis to Derby County latest amid Blackburn Rovers valuation update

Another transfer concerning Eustace's side which has grabbed recent headlines is their pursuit of Lewis Travis, who could follow Andreas Weimann, Danny Batth and Dion Sanderson in a list of players who all featured for the Rams boss at Blackburn Rovers and now at Pride Park.

It has been reported by Derbyshire Live that Rovers value their captain in the region of £3m, despite the fact he is out-of-contract at Ewood Park at the conclusion of the current season.

Travis was also left out of Valerien Ismael's squad for their late 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon as talk intensified over the 26-year-old's expected and reported exit, although any updates regarding the situation since Blackburn's valuation was made clear have been sparse.

The central midfielder would be yet another experienced and welcome addition though, with Eustace admitting after the enthralling defeat to Coventry City that his focus would lean towards depth in the middle of the park and in wide areas.