Derby County agree £3m deal to sign “real leader” who Eustace knows well
Derby County have met the £3 million asking price to sign a “real leader” who manager John Eustace has worked with before, according to a recent report.
Derby closing in on multiple signings
After avoiding relegation by the skin of their teeth, Eustace and co. have been busy in the transfer market, adding five new players to the squad already. Their most expensive capture is USA youngster Patrick Agyemang, who has joined from Charlotte FC.
The Championship side are yet to really utilise the loan market, but that could be about to change, as the Telegraph’s John Percy reports that Derby are close to signing Owen Beck on loan from Liverpool.
#dcfc are close to signing Liverpool left-back Owen Beck on loan for the season. Deal agreed and Wales u21 international expected to undergo medical later this week. Beck was signed by John Eustace at Blackburn last year and was v keen to play under him again #lfc
The Wales under-21 international is expected to undergo his medical at Derby later this week and then become their sixth signing of the summer.
The 22-year-old has already enjoyed a few loan spells in the EFL, as he joined Bolton Wanderers for the 2022/23 campaign and then Eustace’s Blackburn Rovers team for the entirety of last season.
Beck will be the third addition this summer who has worked with Eustace before moving to Derby, and the Rams could soon make it four, as they eye another defensive signing.
Derby meet £3m asking price to sign Callum Brittain
According to EFL Analysis’ Graeme Bailey, Derby have met Blackburn’s asking price to sign defender Callum Brittain.
The Lancashire side had placed a £3 million price tag on the player’s head, and while the Rams have agreed a deal in that ballpark, Middlesbrough are expected to make a new offer and match that after their initial bid was turned down. It will then presumably be up to the player to choose his next destination.
The 27-year-old has been at Ewood Park since 2022, when he joined the club from Barnsley. Brittain has been a regular in the Blackburn side since his move, playing 104 games in the Championship across three campaigns. Last season was a productive one for the versatile full-back, as he scored two goals and recorded five assists in 33 league games.
Brittain was an important figure in Eustace’s former side, and the now Derby boss even reserved special praise for the defender, labelling him “one of the best full-backs in the league” and a “real leader” on and off the pitch.
Brittain’s potential arrival at Pride Park would see him compete alongside Ryan Nyambe and Kane Wilson for that right-back spot, but given his versatility, he can also cover at left-back, right midfield and even central midfield if needed.
