Ipswich Town ‘ponder’ move for Derby County star after ‘£1.5m’ bid by Championship club rejected

Derby County’s summer transfer window is well underway with the Rams have adding three news signings this week. Paul Warne’s side have delved into the free agent market to recruit a goalkeeper, right midfielder and a left back.

However, they are still yet to find a replacement for star man David McGoldrick who left to join Notts County.

Goalkeeper Josh Vickers joined the Rams on Wednesday with his contract up at Rotherham United at the end of this month. He played under Warne for a number of years at the Millers.

The Rams have also added winger Joe Ward, who has joined from Peterborough United on a three-year deal. Ward started in both League One play-off semi-final games against Sheffield Wednesday last term, scoring in the 4-0 first-leg victory. Ward scored six goals and assisted ten times last season for the Posh.

The third signing of the transfer window was left-back Callum Elder who joined the Rams from Hull City. He will provide Warne with another option out wide with the Rams boss preferring to play with two wing-backs.

Ipswich to rival Bristol City for Knight

Ipswich Town have joined the race for Derby and Republic of Ireland midfielder Jason Knight, with the Rams already rejecting two bids from Bristol City for the player.

According to the Daily Mail, the Robins’ latest offer was £1.5m but that was turned down with Stoke City also linked with the player. City are considering a third bid with Ipswich now said to be ‘pondering a move’.

Knight has one year remaining on his deal at Pride Park and his Ireland boss Stephen Kenny claimed before the latest international break that he was on the ‘verge’ of a transfer.

“Yeah, I heard those comments, but I have a year left on my contract,” responded Knight to the Independent.ie over Kenny’s claim.

“I’m an ambitious person, and I want to play at the highest level I can at club and international level. But Derby is a great club and there are a lot of great people at the club. I think there are foundations being built again to make it go up the levels. There are good times ahead at Derby, the club is in a good place now.

“It’s a fine line and I will have to assess everything in the summer. I will get away for a couple of weeks and shut my mind off and make the decision in the pre-season.”

Striker search

After three new signings, Derby are still yet to sign a replacement for McGoldrick. He scored 22 league goals last season but there are still a number of weeks before the League One campaign gets underway.

Widespread reports claim the Rams have a strong interest in Cheltenham Town striker Alfie May, who scored 20 league goals last year. The 29-year-old striker has been attracting a lot of attention with the club already having received a bid from Charlton Athletic, according to Gloucestershire Live.

May only has one year remaining on his deal after signing a two-and-a-half year contract extension in January 2022.