Euro bagsman touted for summer exit - Derby County, Ipswich Town, Southampton must make their moves | OneFootball

FLW has taken a look at three EFL clubs that should plot moves for Darmstadt striker Isac Lidberg this summer

Isac Lidberg has hit 14 goals and two assists in the German second tier for Darmstadt this season, and could leave the club this summer if they are unable to secure promotion, with Championship interest rife in the Swede.

27-year-old Lidberg has endured a relatively unconventional career, playing in the lower reaches of his native Sweden and then Norway before finally storming into European prominence with Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles in 2021.

A spell with Utrecht followed in the 2023/24 season, which led him to Germany with Darmstadt in the summer of 2024, where he has since become a bona fide goal machine.

Lidberg scored 14 goals and grabbed six assists in his first year with Darmstadt, and has already matched that goal tally this time around, with seven games left to spare, as the Swede looks almost certain to endure his most fruitful campaign to date.

According to German journalist Florian Plettenburg via X, Lidberg could leave the club this summer if promotion is not secured, with numerous sides in the Championship said to be interested in his signature.

FLW has taken a look at three Championship clubs that should potentially look to sign Lidberg this summer, with reasoning provided behind the choices.

Derby County

Derby County remain well-placed to become a Premier League side once again next season, with the Rams in strong contention to claim one of the four play-off places.

Under John Eustace, Derby underwent a big summer overhaul to mould the side in his image, and notably brought in attackers such as Rhian Brewster, Carlton Morris, Patrick Agyemang, and Ben Brereton Diaz, the last of whom only joined on loan from Southampton.

The Chilean will likely return to his parent side this summer, whilst Agyemang has been the subject of heavy interest from Premier League clubs such as Leeds United, Crystal Palace, and Wolverhampton Wanderers, with a potential move of upwards of £20 million being touted.

In the event of the sale, that would leave Brewster, Morris, and Salvesen as the club's only options, and with Salvesen and Morris suffering various injuries across the campaign, doubts about whether they can be relied upon have come to the fore.

A new centre-forward may be on the shortlist heading into the summer, especially if Agyemang goes, and Lindberg would fit the bill.

Standing at six-foot-one-inches tall, the Swede possesses the physical ability that Eustace prefers from his strikers, and, most importantly, has proven he knows where the back of the net is.

Unlikely to break the bank, he could be a savvy option for the Rams this summer and provide strong competition to their current crop in the event of a move.

Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town, whilst not at their very best for the majority of the season, still find themselves with a very good chance of earning automatic promotion this campaign.

The Tractor Boys sit two points off Middlesbrough in second. Though with a game in hand, if they can capitalise on that, they will go one point clear of Boro, meaning their fate lies within their own hands.

A centre-forward firing on all cylinders has been the missing piece of the puzzle at Portman Road this year, with neither George Hirst, Ivan Azon, nor Chuba Akpom able to hit the back of the net at the consistency head coach Kieran McKenna would have been hoping for.

Instead, that burden has been laid upon Jaden Philogene and Jack Clarke from the wings, as if Ipswich had an out-and-out striker capable of finding the back of the net consistently this year, their promotion prospects may have looked even brighter at this stage.

Undoubtedly, heading into the summer, regardless of what division they are in, a striker will be of high priority, and Lindberg would present an interesting option for McKenna's side.

The Northern Irish boss has preferred to use a physical presence up top, and in turn, has found the most success with that sort of profile, with both Liam Delap and Kieffer Moore having shone in his system in recent years.

Lindberg would fit the bill in that respect and would provide an interesting alternative up top for Ipswich, who should consider a move for him this summer, regardless of whether they are playing Premier League or Championship football next season.

Southampton

Like both Derby and Ipswich, Southampton are also setting their sights on a Premier League return, having suffered a disappointing relegation from the top flight last time out.

Tonda Eckert has revitalised the Saints squad upon his arrival in the dugout following the sacking of Will Still, and taken the club from relegation contenders to promotion hopefuls in no time.

The decision to part ways with top scorer Adam Armstrong in the January window would have raised some eyebrows at the time, though that has since proven to be the correct move, with the Saints going from strength to strength without him.

Cyle Larin joined on loan from Mallorca, whilst Ross Stewart has returned from injury to provide competition, as Cameron Archer looks almost certain to leave in the summer in any instance.

With Eckert seemingly preferring a larger presence up top, he could well delve into the German market this summer and look to bring Lindberg to St Mary's.

Southampton