Derby County ‘now front-runners’: Birmingham City, QPR battle for star midfielder as transfer deadline looms
Derby County is reportedly leading the bid to sign Japanese midfielder Koki Saito, edging out Birmingham City and QPR.
Derby County is a front-runner in the Koki Saito battle, according to football expert Mike McGrath.
Derby County joined Birmingham City and QPR in the race to sign Koki Saito earlier this month.
Now Derby County are reportedly one step closer to inking a deal with Japanese midfielder Koki Saito.
It is set to be a tense fortnight ahead as with deadline day approaching on Monday September 1.
Mike McGrath from The Telegraph posted on X: ‘Derby's bid for Japanese midfielder Koki Saito has met Lommel's valuation. DCFC now frontrunners for the 24yo and in final talks with Belgian club over the deal. They are discussing deal with Saito's camp.’
The timing of McGrath’s X post is particularly significant, who posted his social media update following the Rams’ heavy defeat by hosts Coventry City on Saturday.
When speaking to BBC Radio Derby, Derby County manager John Eustace said he was looking to ‘defend the box better’, which could hint at a midfielder addition.
Eustace said: “"Really disappointing to lose. I was proud of the effort of the group again.
“They were 100% committed. But we needed to be a lot better, especially when we go 3-2 up.
"We've got to defend the box better. It's something we haven't done well enough during pre-season and in the first couple of games. It's something that we've got to keep working on.
"That's not what we're all about. We're always hard to play against, always defend the box for our lives - this is our DNA. In the last two games we just haven't done that well enough.
"The positives to come out of the game were three goals - to go behind twice and come back showed great character. So we've got that fighting spirit, we've just got to be better in both boxes."
"We've got to defend the box better. It's something we haven't done well enough during pre-season and in the first couple of games. It's something that we've got to keep working on.
For more Derby County information click here: derbyworld.co.uk