Derby County are looking to boost their Championship survival hopes by being savvy in the transfer market.
Although Derby are yet to get any player officially through the doors at Pride Park, Alan Nixon claims Paul Warne has made his first signing of the summer and captured an unnamed Premier League player on loan.
That will be music to the ears of Rams supporters, who are clinging to the hope that new arrivals are just around the corner.
Warne is looking to capture a new goalkeeper to replace Joe Wildsmith, drawing links to AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, while the Derby boss also needs to bolster his attack.
For Derby to accumulate enough points to survive in the second tier, added quality is needed in forward areas, which explains why they’ve shown a keen interest in Karamoko Dembele and Josh Windass.
They aren’t the only two players piquing Warne’s appetite for talent as a Premier League free agent would help resolve their deficiencies in attack.
Derby should sign Jamal Lowe as a James Collins upgrade
James Collins may have finished as the club’s top scorer in the league last term with 14 however, there are question marks over his proficiency in the second tier.
Now aged 33 and still discussing a new contract, Warne needs a long-term replacement for the Irishman and free agent forward Jamal Lowe could be just that.
Lowe was recently released from Premier League side Bournemouth but his roots stem from being a tricky customer in the EFL, whose pace, skill and finishing can cause any defence problems.
The 29-year-old spent last campaign on loan at Swansea City and produced a respectable tally of nine goals in 35 appearances.
Operating predominantly as a centre forward or on the left, Lowe was previously described as “excellent” by Steve Cooper and would add real dynamism and versatility to the Derby frontline.
In the final third, Warne needs players who have excelled at this level and the ex-Portsmouth man has, winning promotion from the Championship with Bournemouth in the 2021/22 campaign.
Jamal Lowe would cost Derby nothing
Portsmouth were linked with a return for Lowe and that makes sense given his location however, Pompey have been ruled out of the running for him due to wages.
Derby aren’t afraid to spend a decent chunk on wages having brought Corey Blackett-Taylor to the club in January.
And if the Rams have ambitions of staying in the Championship, these are the type of players David Clowes has to fork out for.
It isn’t often that a player of Lowe’s quality becomes available on a free transfer, so snapping up the Englishman would be a real show of their intent.
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