Derby County target 17 year-old Hearts star alongside Leicester City and QPR

Rocco Friel in action for Hearts U21 in Youth Cup

Reports have emerged that Paul Warne is keeping tabs on 17 year-old right back Rocco Friel who plays in Scotland for Hearts.

The defender is also getting monitored by now-Premier League side Leicester City and also Championship rivals Queen’s Park Rangers.

The 17 year-old currently plays for Hearts’ B Team and in the Scotland U19s international side.

Friel is out of contract in the summer and so the Rams could add him for free to help with generating more young talent in the squad.

He’s made 13 appearances, scoring two goals and recording three assists this past season and has been a mainstay in Hearts’ B team.

He has previously trained with Derby and also Paul Warne was keen on bringing in the right-sided player in January.

He would most-likely take a spot in Derby’s very impressive U21s side with a view to developing into a regular starter for the first team.

Derby’s youth teams haven’t struggled to develop young talents into stars before and so Friel could be the next in a long list of exciting young Derby players.

With Leicester City keen on him, it clearly shows that the Scot has superstar potential, so the Rams would do well to bring him to Pride Park.

Friel came through the ranks at Rangers’ academy and moved to Hearts at the age of 15, he is now poised for his next big step in an exciting young career.