Derby County should look elsewhere for attacking talent, if they are to miss out on Karamoko Dembele.
Paul Warne’s Derby County have been busy in the build-up to the 2024/25 season following their promotion from League One.
They expressed interest in young winger Karamoko Dembele, who revived his career with a brilliant season for Blackpool with 21 goal contributions.
Dembele has since been released from parent club Brest, however Derby won’t be the only suitor for the 21-year-old.
There has also been interest in Josh Windass from the Rams, but they have Championship competition in the form of Hull City and Coventry City, who will battle it out for the Sheffield Wednesday attacker.
It’s clear that Derby are looking to bolster their attacking options, especially with the departure of Dwight Gayle and Martyn Waghorn, and one former Championship winger stands out as a good alternative.
Derby County should join race for Ovie Ejaria
Warne should look towards former Reading winger Ovie Ejaria following his release from the Royals back in December.
The former Liverpool youngster reportedly trained with Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last season, per reports.
However, no further move for the winger has taken place from the Owls in acquiring Ejaria, potentially leaving the door open for Derby County to bring in some Championship experience for the 2024/25 season.
The 26-year-old spent five seasons in the Championship with Reading and an additional year with Sunderland in the 2017/18 season, totalling 23 goal contributions across 135 league appearances.
What would Ovie Ejaria bring to Derby County
The former Reading winger could be crucial for Warne in his bid to retain Derby County’s Championship status next season.
Although his record doesn’t show him to be a prolific goal-scorer, the winger shows his quality around the box, having the ability to test a keeper from long range, particularly from the left-side where he tends to cut in on his favoured right foot.
Ejaria’s pace could also be deadly for the Rams, as he showed on multiple occasions for Reading.
However, the Englishman has been hampered by injuries in recent times, with a groin injury notably affecting him in the 2021/22 season and also throughout spells this season prior to his release in January.
Derby will have to be actively searching for players in case of losing out on Dembele or Windass, but Ejaria could easily be the best alternative with his heaps of Championship experience.
With Ejaria being a free agent, he will come with no fee, a further plus for Warne in potentially bringing the winger to Pride Park.
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