Derby County warned off Stockport County transfer raid - "I'm not sure he'd cut it" | OneFootball

Derby County have been linked with a move for Stockport County man Jack Diamond

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Stockport County winger Jack Diamond is of interest to Championship side Derby County, along with a host of other second-tier clubs.

That was revealed exclusively by Football League World last week, with the Rams just one of a number of second tier clubs eyeing the 25-year-old attacker.

The Hatters man has scored four goals and provided four assists in 20 League One outings so far this season, and has been a key creative influence in the absence of Ollie Norwood.

£500k-rated Jack Diamond may struggle to make an impact if making Derby County move

We asked our Stockport fan pundit, James Cropper, whether he believes Diamond is capable of playing Championship football, and what sort of fee would be required - and he's not convinced that the ex-Sunderland man would make the step up.

Speaking to Football League World, James said: “Obviously, with Jack Diamond he’s been very solid for us this season.

“He's kind of stepped up in the absence of others, and I think you would be demanding a decent fee for him.

“I mean, there's obviously flaws in his game. He isn't the greatest finisher in the world, he's been getting better recently, but sometimes he can be a bit wasteful.

“But I think where he's playing, you're just going to have to deal with it because some of the stuff he does, like he's a great ball carrier. He’s actually a decent passer of the ball, which he wasn't great at in his first season here, but he's got better.

“He's complementing Malik Mothersille, who has had quite a tough start to life at County, you'd have to say, so far, but he's starting games now, he wasn't starting towards the beginning of the season, and I think they both work together quite well.

“I mean, obviously, it's still tough for Malik Mothersille because he's only got one goal, and he is playing in a very advanced role, and we've signed him for his goals and assists.

“So, obviously, it's tough. He’s been very poor, but Jack Diamond has stepped up in the absence of Ollie Norwood, who's now back.

“So, he's been a bright light, because without Norwood we've been very, very poor.

“I think with Diamond, he's not young anymore. He's 25, about to turn 26, so he’s not got the same potential as someone like an Ethan Pye or a Brad Hills, who are probably our highest-potential players in our squad right now. I'd reckon they'd command a more significant fee just because they're younger.

“But for a Championship club, I think he'd be decent. I don't think he's at that level yet, but I reckon in one or two years, I reckon he could probably hold his own in a mid-table Championship side.

“As for fee, I imagine it'd be somewhere around £500,000, and a bit of a sell-on clause because he has got potential.

“He has been good this season, but he's definitely not our best player, and I'm not sure he would cut it at that level at the moment.”

Jack Diamond sale could be good for Malik Mothersille's Stockport County future

Diamond began his career with the Hatters being somewhat overshadowed by the work of Louie Barry, which was creating national headlines at the time.

The 25-year-old has not reached those levels, but he has taken a significant amount of burden off the shoulders of Malik Mothersille, who was signed for a club-record fee in the summer.

That price tag appears to be weighing heavy, as he’s endured a difficult start to life at Edgeley Park, but his talent is undoubtedly there, boasting 12 goals and nine assists for Peterborough United last season.

It took Barry departing for Diamond to truly come into his own, so Diamond being sold to Derby could well see a similar passing of the baton.

Owner Mark Stott has spoken consistently about the need for the club to start identifying talent on the cheap and selling for a profit, in order to move the club from being reliant on his financial input and become sustainable in its own right.

Diamond signed a three-year deal in 2024, meaning this January window is the last that he’ll have more than a year remaining on his deal.

That, coupled with his current good form, suggests that his current value may be at its peak, as he is unlikely to sign fresh terms with so many big Championship sides sniffing around.

As James says, Norwood is, at the moment, the club’s main creative force, and with the likes of Mothersille and Jayden Fevrier in reserve, the club should be able to cope without Diamond, and bank a significant profit in the process.