Derby County has been tipped as the best, next destination for this soon-to-be free agent.
Derby County look like they’ll target some free agent signings this summer, as they gear up for their return to the Championship.
A handful of names have been linked including some players coming to the ends of their contracts; midfielder Herbie Kane and experienced Football League striker Josh Windass are two.
But expect the Rams and Paul Warne to be willing to spend money on certain players, as we saw with the Viktor Johansson link, and to also target Premier League and Championship loans throughout the summer.
Another name recently linked with a move to Pride Park is Ateef Konate; the 23-year-old attacking midfielder is set to leave Nottingham Forest as a free agent this summer.
Derby County are reportedly interested in a potential deal, along with Huddersfield Town, Leeds United, and Sunderland.
Carlton Palmer says Derby County is the ‘ideal place’ for Ateef Konate
Speaking to Football League World, pundit Carlton Palmer discussed Konate’s next move, saying: “He needs to be playing football.
“It’s looking at a club where he’s going to be given the opportunity to play football.
“Derby are having a complete re-shuffle with their playing squad. We’ve seen how Sunderland are with young players, but they’re yet to have a manager in place.
“Leeds United will be pushing for promotion next season, and they’re in need of a front player. Where would he fit in?
“I think Derby might be the ideal place for Ateef, it’s just down the road from Nottingham and Paul Warne works with young players and knows how to get the best out of them, so I think that would be a good move for him.”
What next for Ateef Konate amid Derby County rumours
Konate is certainly lacking first-team experience at 23 years old; he’s made 96 career appearances but many have been in development leagues, with one in the Championship and five with Oxford United in League One during the 2022/23 season.
Like Palmer says, his next move must be somewhere that he’ll receive game time, and Derby County could be the best pick of the teams linked so far.
Konate surely won’t want to drop down too low; to League One with the likes of Huddersfield Town, and he won’t want to be to high up with the likes of Leeds United, as he’ll be in the same situation again.
Derby County then may be the perfect fit for him, especially so with attacking numbers looking quite thin on the ground right now.
Also like Palmer says, location could play a big part for Konate, who’ll have lived in the Nottingham area for a number of years now.
Either way, Derby County have a huge summer ahead, and Warne will be keen to start out on his transfer plans soon.
The post 'A good move for him': Derby County is the 'ideal place' for soon-to-be free agent, says pundit appeared first on Derby County News.