Derby County

Derby County boss John Eustace says Sunderland midfielder Nectar Triantis is not on his transfer radar despite rumours circulating about a possible move for the Australian.

"That's not a name I've been speaking about with the club. I think his agent might be putting that out there," Eustace told BBC Radio Derby after the side's 2-0 pre-season victory over Atromitos on Saturday.

"He's a good player but he's not somebody that, at the moment, we are looking at."

The Rams may find themselves a little lighter defensively as they prepare for their opening Championship game against Stoke City on Saturday (15:00 BST), with Eustace unsure if left-back Owen Beck and defender Matt Clarke will be fit in time.

The 45-year-old added: "They've had slight injury niggles so we will have to see if they will be available for next week.

"But Jake Rooney has stepped in, he's done well today."

Listen to the full post-match interview with Eustace and more on BBC Sounds.

Amelia Warren
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Just like that, another pre-season has come and gone and the start of the Championship season is just under a week away.

The Rams have had a relatively impressive warm up, only losing one out of their six friendlies, and one player who has particularly shone throughout all of those matches is winger Corey Blackett-Taylor.

Blackett-Taylor has had a topsy turvy Derby career so far, struggling to make himself a regular starter and being hit with injuries that have prevented him getting a consistent run in the squad.

However, in pre-season, the 27-year-old has been on the scoresheet an impressive five times, whilst also adding two assists.

The winger's fine form has almost certainly earned him a starting spot for the opening game against Stoke on Saturday, with his confident, direct approach being heavily praised by fans.

You'd struggle to name another player amongst the squad who is oozing more confidence than Blackett-Taylor right now. It will be interesting to see how he gets on when things get real at the weekend, and also what differences we see in him throughout the season under John Eustace's style of play and instructions.

Derby have strengthened their squad over the summer.

After losing key players from last season such as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Marcus Harness and Harrison Armstrong, it was important the recruitment team were able to bring players in that would not only suit the Eustace philosophy, but also provide some much-needed depth to the squad, something which many fans feel has been missing for a number of seasons.

The signings of players such as Rhian Brewster, Patrick Agyemang, Owen Beck on loan and the return of midfielder David Ozoh on another season-long loan have impressed the Derby faithful, with the general consensus that the players coming in possess more quality than those they're replacing.

You also feel like the calibre of players we've recruited gives out a strong statement to other clubs in the division that we will no doubt be aiming for the top half, and potentially even pushing for the play off places in the coming campaign.

With Eustace taking charge of his first full season with the Rams, impressive fresh faces through the door to bolster the squad and other players looking totally reignited throughout pre-season, Derby look set for an exciting and much improved nine months of Championship chaos.

The countdown is on.

You can often catch Amelia Warren, external as a guest on BBC Radio Derby.

Austrian side Sturm Graz have rejected another bid from Derby County for their 21-year-old right-back Max Johnston despite the Rams having increased their offer from £1.4m to £1.6m for the Scotland international. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.

Derby County forward Kayden Jackson said he is keen to get stuck into another Championship season following a productive pre-season.

The Rams beat fifth-tier Solihull Moors 4-2 in a friendly on Tuesday as they continue their preparation for another season in the Championship.

"[I'm] eager to get the season started. It's been a lot of hard work and still hard work to go," Jackson told BBC Radio Derby.

"Lots of things to work on. You're always improving, you always want to be better, you always want to be fitter."

Jackson said he has belief in the Derby County coaching staff ahead of the upcoming season.

"A lot of good messages, good structure, good practices. It's different ways of working from previously but it's something to embrace and something to keep working on."

Derby County play their final pre-season friendly against Greek top-flight side Atromitos FC at Pride Park on Saturday, 2 August.

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

"The three opening games are really going to be setting a marker, and I hope we see the evolution of the squad in terms of recruitment, in terms of what we are seeing on the training pitch.

"We've seen glimpses of it, but was it enough to get my juices flowing... that kind of performance didn't do that for me."

BBC Radio Derby's Dominic Dietrich and former Rams striker Malcolm Christie reflect on club's pre-season defeat by Burton Albion and what to expect when the new Championship season kicks off with a trip to Stoke City in August.

Listen to the full analysis and more on BBC Sounds.

Derby County goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom said that he is "very excited" at the Rams' prospects come the new Championship season.

This summer is the first time the Sweden international has been able to join the club for their pre-season preparations after joining from Djurgarden in August 2024, a move that was delayed by the Swedish side's involvement in the qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.

"Coming into the club last year without a pre-season, it's nice to get these few weeks to work with the lads," he told BBC Radio Derby after the team's 2-1 pre-season defeat by Burton Albion.

"Obviously, you're human and you need the time to recover physically and mentally, so that was good. But me, I am very ready for the season to come.

"The way we finished last season, the way we've been working this pre-season and new faces and everything - I'm very, very excited."

Listen to the full post-match interview with Jacob Widell Zetterstrom and more on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Derby County are hopeful of bringing Crystal Palace midfielder David Ozoh back to Pride Park on a loan deal.

The 20-year-old spent last season with the Rams in the Championship and managed to make a positive impression despite making only 10 league appearances in an injury-hit campaign.

BBC Derby Sport report that the Rams are working to get a new loan agreement for Ozoh over the line.

Derby have already made six summer signings and head coach John Eustace has expressed a desire to further bolster his options across the pitch.

Derby County captain Ebou Adams believes the Rams "will make a statement" during their upcoming Championship campaign.

Derby lost three successive games when boss John Eustace joined from Blackburn Rovers in February but went on to have a much stronger end to the season, losing just two of their next 11 games. It is the kind of form Adams intends to continue into August and beyond.

"I think we will make a statement this season," Adams told BBC Radio Derby.

"I say this all the time, there's no point in playing football if you're not going to have that belief.

"You're allowed to dream and dreams do come true so I'll play with loads of hope, loads of belief. We've got the backings from the gaffer, the players, the fans so I'll be looking forward to it."

Adams is also hoping to "better his stats" in the upcoming season and to do so, he's been putting in the work during pre-season.

The midfielder added: "No one really likes the running part of it but you've got to get it done.

"To play, you have to be fit and what I've seen so far in terms of pre-season is that everyone has been up and at it."

Listen to the full interview with Ebou Adams and more on BBC Sounds.

Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic says he has no interest in letting defender Cody Drameh, 23, go this summer despite interest from Derby County and Preston North End. (Hull Daily Mail), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.

Andrew Aloia
BBC Sport, East Midlands at Moor Farm

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool left-back Owen Beck is close to completing a loan move to Derby County.

The 22-year-old Welshman spent last season on loan in the Championship with Blackburn, where he played under now Rams boss John Eustace.

The Derby head coach has already been reunited with two former Rovers players during the summer transfer window, having signed midfielder Andreas Weimann and centre-back Danny Batth.

Eustace was asked about the Beck link during a media day at Derby's Moor Farm training base on Thursday and, while shy on giving any details about the Rams' pursuit of the player, he was glowing in his appraisal of the former Wales Under-21 international.

"He is a really exciting young player," he told BBC Radio Derby.

"I was very fortunate to work with him last year and everyone could see the growth he made playing in the Championship.

"He is a super, young, talented player and one of the most exciting full-backs in the country for his age at the moment."

Derby County defender Sondre Langas has revealed he was playing through the pain barrier at the back end of last season.

The 24-year-old Norway international became a mainstay in John Eustace's side during the second half of the campaign following his January move from Viking.

But he will miss the start of the upcoming campaign while he recovers from knee surgery after starting all seven of Derby's final matches of the season as they secured their Championship status.

"It was really, really painful - it's hard to tell [describe] how painful," Langas told BBC Radio Derby.

"The gaffer was really good and told me I have to be honest with him if something was wrong.

"It was tough because I was on a lot of painkillers but I didn't use them during training so training was the worst."

Listen to the full interview and more on Derby County on BBC Sounds.

Derby County midfielder Liam Thompson said boss John Eustace played a big role in his decision to sign a new contract with the Championship club.

The 23-year-old agreed a new two-year deal to stay at Pride Park this summer.

"It was always going to be my main aim to stay here - especially under the gaffer," Thompson told BBC Radio Derby.

"I can see myself developing and that's a very important thing for me now at this stage of my career. I feel like I need to kick on and take another step in the right direction."

Thompson added that Eustace's background playing in the same position and subsequent advice has helped him progress as a footballer, something he is keen to do more of under the head coach's guidance.

"[Eustace has] been huge. He's obviously played as a midfielder in his career, so I'm always taking information from him on the pitch, and he's always talking to you and helping you.

"There's a different side of it, a different twist on it, and it's good. I can really see myself improving and you can see the difference already.

"The gaffer has been a massive influence on me here. 100%."

Listen to the full interview with Liam Thompson and more on BBC Sounds.

Derby County have reportedly met the £3m asking price for Blackburn defender Callum Brittain, 27, after the Englishman rejected a new contract at Ewood Park. Rams boss John Eustace managed Brittain at Rovers last season. (EFL Analysis), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Derby County hope to bring in Welsh left-back Owen Beck, 22, on loan from Liverpool, reuniting him with Rams boss John Eustace, who managed him at Blackburn last season. (John Percy, external)

Coventry City, Derby County and Oxford United are interested in 32-year-old German defender Patrick Bauer, formerly of Preston North End. (SportsBoom, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Is new Derby County signing Patrick Agyemang worth his high price tag?

The USA international has made the move to England from Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC for £7.3m on Tuesday.

The fee has raised a few eyebrows, but Charlotte FC commentator Will Palaszczuk says the 24-year-old could well be worth his fee.

"I understand that some folks may have some reticence about somebody who only has 17, 18 professional goals to his name at this time through three seasons," Palaszczuk told BBC Radio Derby.

"The productivity number isn't necessarily at the height you would expect somebody that you're spending that much money for.

"You're buying on potential definitely but I think the potential is definitely there."

Goalscoring is not the only thing the American may be able to bring to the Rams.

Palaszczuk also expects the "statuesque target striker" to become a handful for Championship defenders.

"He's very, very good on the ball, he's great at running in behind - those are his best attributes," the commentator added.

"The one thing that Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith has said about him is that he is a load of a problem to play against.

"There's not a defender, whether it's in [the MLS], in CONCACAF, in the international stage that looks at him and thinks 'I'm going to have an easy day'. That's what he brings to the table."

Image source, Getty Images

New Rams forward Patrick Agyemang can live up to his hefty price tag, according to someone who knows him better than most.

The 24-year-old USA international signed from MLS side Charlotte FC earlier this week for a fee which could rise to £7.3m.

Agyemang scored 17 goals in 59 MLS regular-season appearances for Charlotte after they recruited him from the University of Rhode Island as the 12th overall pick in the 2023 draft.

He scored on his international debut after being called up by USA boss Mauricio Pochettino in January and has netted a further five goals in 12 appearances for his country.

Andy Quy, a former goalkeeper who was on the books at Derby in the mid-90s and later coached in the Rams academy, was part of the coaching set-up at Charlotte FC from October 2021 to November 2023.

The 48-year-old told BBC Radio Derby: "We took Patrick out of college in 2023. He was very raw but we could certainly see the potential.

"He always produced something special when he came on the pitch and caused the opposition problems.

"He's a big guy, those arms and elbows move around a lot and he holds people off well. He's going to find the physicality of the league something he needs to adapt to.

"The intensity of the games will be different and the number of games he'll have to deal with over the season will make a difference but he's certainly robust enough and fit enough and a good enough athlete to be able to deal with that."

Quy admitted Agyemang's rise had possibly come quicker than he had expected.

"When he first came in he talked about what his goals were and that was to play in Europe and play in the US national team and those things have come around for him really quickly.

"He's settled into those things, he's heading in the right direction, he's got the move he wanted, there's a good sized price tag on it but he's certainly got the shoulders to stand up to that."