Derby County narrowly missed out on a play-off place last season after finishing eighth, but the expanded Championship play-off format from the upcoming campaign could work in their favor. If the Rams match last season’s finish, they would now have a chance to compete for promotion back to the Premier League for the first time since 2008.
The club has already strengthened John Eustace’s squad with the permanent signing of Bobby Clark following his successful loan spell, while Charlie Taylor and Filip Bilbija have also arrived as free agents. With the transfer window open until September 1, Derby are still expected to add more players, and reports suggest a move for OH Leuven striker Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi is progressing.
However, Derby supporter and Football League World pundit Shaun Woodward is doubtful the deal will be completed. He believes the reported transfer fee, believed to be in the region of £3-4 million, is a significant investment for a striker who has yet to prove himself at Championship level.
Woodward questioned whether Ikwuemesi’s record justifies such a fee, pointing to his modest scoring return and lack of experience in England’s demanding second tier. While he acknowledged that players with underwhelming statistics have previously gone on to succeed at Derby, he remains unconvinced that this is the right gamble for the club.
The pundit did admit the Nigerian forward has qualities that could make him an attractive prospect. At 24 years old and standing around 6ft 5in, Ikwuemesi possesses the physical attributes to develop into a dangerous striker, but Woodward still feels a move is unlikely.
He also argued that Derby’s priorities should lie elsewhere. The departures of Ben Brereton Díaz, Sammie Szmodics and Jaydon Banel, coupled with injuries to Rhian Brewster and Patrick Agyemang, have left the Rams desperately short of attacking options, particularly in wide areas.
Woodward believes signing a tall center-forward would make little sense without first strengthening the wings, as Derby currently lack the players capable of consistently providing quality service into the box. At present, John Eustace is relying heavily on Bobby Clark to create chances behind Marcus Morris, who himself needs greater support in attack.
While Derby remain active in the transfer market, Woodward believes reinforcing the squad with creative wide players should take priority before committing a substantial fee for Ikwuemesi.
