Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut has dropped a major update on the future of Derby County loan hero Ebou Adams.
Derby County’s success with loan players is well-documented having watched Mason Mount, Harry Wilson and Fikayo Tomori flourish at the club previously.
The latest loan player to become a fan favourite at Pride Park is midfielder Ebou Adams, who arrived from Cardiff City in the January transfer window.
Adams’ combative and aggressive midfield displays dragged Paul Warne’s men to promotion, with many clamouring to see the 28-year-old join permanently.
The Gambian became an unstoppable force in the Rams’ engine room and his ability to win the ball back complemented the technical attributes of Conor Hourihane and Max Bird.
His impact in the space of a few months was incredible, and Warne is desperate to lure him to Derbyshire this summer having seen a £250,000 bid knocked back.
Cardiff are said to want in the region of £500,000 to allow him to depart South Wales.
Erol Bulut drops the latest update on Ebou Adams’ future
Erol Bulut made it clear that Adams wasn’t a part of his plans at Cardiff, starting him just three times in the Championship.
The former League Two winner, who they signed from Forest Green Rovers, has since shown the 49-year-old what he’s been missing in his midfield.
Sometimes it only takes a player to go out on loan to show the manager his true capabilities, and that is exactly what Adams has done at Derby, with Bulut ready to assess his future.
“I congratulated him for the victory,” Bulut said via Wales Online. “They got promoted. He was a big part from the season and helped the team a lot to get promoted.
“New season, if we are all together here, we will see how it goes. He is still under contract of Cardiff City – he is a Cardiff City player. So let’s see how he thinks, how his manager is thinking, how the clubs are thinking – Cardiff City and Derby – and we will see.
“I think there was interest in him, very much, and they took him. But if [they want to sign him permanently], they have to discuss with our club.”
Derby County are in pole position to sign Ebou Adams
The only downside to Adams performing out of his skin at Derby is seeing his value skyrocket.
In January, if the Rams were able to launch a £250,000 bid – and weren’t hamstrung by EFL restrictions – Cardiff may have accepted.
But because he’s done so well and the Bluebirds would be technically selling to a Championship rival, the club are demanding double that fee, which isn’t unreasonable.
Adams is approaching the peak years of his career and he’s shown in League One he’s one of the best defensive midfielders, so if he can step it up in the second tier, while perhaps improving his technical attributes, he will be worth every penny.
The ball appears to be in Derby’s court in pursuit of Adams, it’s just whether both clubs can agree on a transfer fee.
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