How Sunderland have reacted to Derby County's £1.2m bid for midfielder | OneFootball

The Rams have tabled an offer for the Sunderland midfielder.

Sunderland have rejected Derby County's £1.2m bid for midfielder Nectarios Triantis.

The Rams have been working hard to improve John Eustace's playing squad this summer.

County have made seven new signings so far this window, with the arrivals of Patrick Agyemang, David Ozoh, Carlton Morris and Owen Beck being among the eye-catching additions.

Derby will be hoping that after surviving in their first season back in the Championship last term, that Eustace will be able to lead his side back towards the right end of the second tier and challenge for a play-off place in 2025/26.

Sunderland reject Derby County bid for Nectarios Triantis

Derby's recruitment drive is showing no signs of slowing down either, but they have received a fresh setback regarding their latest transfer target.

A report from the Daily Record's live transfer blog on Thursday has revealed that Premier League newboys Sunderland have rejected a £1.2m bid from Derby for Nectarios Triantis.

It's understood that a number of Championship clubs are interested in the 22-year-old central midfielder, who spent the 24/25 season out on loan with Scottish Premiership outfit Hibernian.

Triantis is also stated to have clubs circling his signature across Europe and America, whilst there is interest from Greece and from his homeland of Australia too.

Hibernian have reportedly attempted to bring the Australian international back to Easter Road on a club-record deal this summer, but the Black Cats have informed the Edinburgh-based club that won't be happening.

Triantis joined Sunderland from Central Coast Mariners in the summer of 2023 for a reported fee of £300k, and is contracted at the Stadium of Light until the summer of 2027.

Triantis could be final piece to complete excellent Derby County midfield options for Eustace

Eustace's midfield options already look strong, but the addition of Triantis could be the final piece in the puzzle to complete a talented and deep unit in the heart of his system.

The former Blackburn boss routinely deployed a 3-5-2 approach during his first few months as Derby boss last season, which is a formation that accommodates three central midfielders in the starting XI.

County's current options in that department consist of Ben Osborn, Liam Thompson, Kenzo Goudmijn, Ebou Adams and David Ozoh respectively, with the latter recently re-joining the club for a second loan spell.

However, Rams skipper Adams has been linked with a move away this summer, whilst the jury still remains out on Thompson and Goudmijn.

As such, Derby seemingly feel that their midfield core could perhaps do with another bit of bolstering ahead of the new campaign, in order to ensure Eustace has enough quality options to call upon over the course of a gruelling EFL campaign.

Triantis was superb for Hibernian last season, winning the club's Young Player of the Year award, and was nominated for the Scottish Football Writers' Association Player of the Year award too - which was won by Celtic's Daizen Maeda.

At only 22, the Australian evidently has bags of ability and the potential to become a top-quality central midfielder in the coming years, and should Derby be able to negotiate a deal with Sunderland, he could be a very wise investment for both the immediate and long-term future.

It remains to be seen how Derby will respond to this setback.