Exclusive: Derby County, John Eustace urged to seal "brilliant deal" for Valencia attacker | OneFootball

Don Goodman has told Football League World that Derby County should continue to pursue a move for Valencia attacker Sergi Canos.

The 2025/26 Championship season was expected to be a better one for Derby County, having narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the season and now with a desire to kick on.

The Rams appointed former player John Eustace, who opted to leave play-off chasing Blackburn Rovers for then rock-bottom Derby in the spring, and Eustace led them to survival.

Over the summer, the former Birmingham City boss has been able to bring in some of his favourites into the squad, as well as being given relatively substantial funds to transform the squad.

However, amid something approaching an injury crisis, Derby have started their season really poorly with just one point collected from their opening three league games, and they were recently knocked out of the EFL Cup at the second round stage by Burnley, too.

Derby still have a bit of work to do in what has already been a busy summer transfer window, and they are being linked with an ambitious move for Valencia winger Sergi Canos.

Derby urged to try and sign Sergi Canos

Sergi Canos has become the latest man linked with a move to Pride Park, albeit the Liverpool academy graduate is currently unavailable for Valencia in La Liga due to injury.

The 28-year-old winger, who has also played as a wing-back during his career, is currently under the management of former West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan at the Mestalla.

The former Spain youth international came through at Barcelona as well as Liverpool, before a first stint in the EFL on loan at Brentford, which was followed by an ill-fated permanent move to Norwich City.

He returned to Brentford after just a few months in Norfolk and thrived for the Bees as they gained promotion to the Premier League, with the attacker eventually going on to play nearly 250 games for the west Londoners.

Now, with Derby reportedly interested in bringing him back to England, EFL pundit Don Goodman believes the experience of Sergi Canos would make him a good addition for Eustace’s side.

The Sky Sports pundit believes that a deal for Canos could potentially prove to be a "brilliant" one for the Rams, if they are able to get the Spaniard back to his best form at Brentford.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Goodman said: “He’s a player, Sergi Canos, who I followed from his journey to Brentford and he was exceptional when Brentford were getting promoted five seasons ago.

“He got something like nine goals and like nine assists then, but in around 40 off La Liga games, he has managed just one goal and a couple of assists to his name. It’s been a bit of a downward spiral.

“Having said all of that, the Championship isn’t La Liga and it’s not the Premier League. Given that he’s experienced, if Derby can get the Sergi Canos back that was playing so well for Brentford then they’re in business and it would be a brilliant deal.”

It has been a busy summer for Derby so far

So far this summer, Derby have embarked upon a bit of a fairly major rebuild, with several players allowed to leave the club and a transformation in the squad age and profile required.

On free transfers; Danny Batth, Richie O’Donnell, Andreas Weimann and Rhian Brewster have all made the move, whilst attackers Patrick Agyemang and Carlton Morris have both also signed, along with the acquisiton of ex-Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis.

Derby have also brought in a quartet of loanees, with Owen Beck, David Ozoh, Bobby Clark and Dion Sanderson joining from Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Red Bull Salzburg and Birmingham City respectively.

As well as links to Sergi Canos, it is also believed that Derby are close to signing Scottish full-back Max Johnston from Austrian Bundesliga giants Sturm Graz for a fee believed to be in the region of £3.5 million.

Derby have already been busy with ten, and very nearly 11, new signing this summer, but Sergi Canos represents what could yet continue to be a busy close to the window.