Although he won’t have given up on snatching a late place in the play-off positions this season, new Derby County manager Gary Rowett will have surely started planning for a big promotion push next term.
The Rams are currently nine points behind sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday with eight Championship fixtures of the campaign remaining, but with three teams in between them and the Owls – as well as the nine-point gap – it would take something of a miracle if they were to finish in the top six now.
Rowett took the helm at Pride Park last week following the dismissal of Steve McClaren, making a return to the Championship after he was surprisingly sacked by Birmingham City in December, despite the fact that the Blues were involved in the play-off race.
The 43-year-old was often lauded for the job he did at St Andrew’s, and he got the best out of the additions that he made and the playing staff that he had at his disposal – some of which he may want to be reunited with in his new role.
Here are THREE Birmingham players that Rowett could look to sign for Derby this summer…
Che Adams
While Rowett often had a small budget to work with during his time at St Andrew’s, he was given some money to spend last summer and one of his additions was Sheffield United forward Adams.
The 20-year-old, who cost a reported £2m, was one of the most highly-rated players in League One having scored 11 goals in 36 league appearances for the Blades.
He quickly established himself as a key first team player under Rowett, but found opportunities harder to come by before his manager departed in December.
Despite that fact, the 43-year-old boss was impressed enough to buy the deceptively strong attacker for £2m, and he may feel that Adams is a young player that can make a difference at Pride Park.
Lukas Jutkiewicz
Now, this could depend on the future of Chris Martin – who is currently on loan at Championship rivals Fulham – but Rowett may feel that he doesn’t have enough height or strength up top right now if the striker doesn’t stay at Pride Park this summer.
The likes of David Nugent, Matej Vydra and Darren Bent are known for their causing problems for defences with work rate and finishing rather than holding the ball up, and Jutkiewicz – who has netted 11 league goals for the Blues this season – could well be a target for the 43-year-old this summer as he looks for a different option.
Rowett was on the verge of making the 27-year-old’s move to St Andrew’s permanent before his sacking – it has since been by new manager Gianfranco Zola – and he could yet try and sign the striker for the Rams in the summer.
Maikel Kieftenbeld
With the likes of Craig Bryson and Bradley Johnson getting no younger, and the continued fitness worries over George Thorne, central midfield could be area that Rowett is looking to strengthen in this summer.
One of his targets could be Blues midfielder Kieftenbeld, who became a regular fixture in the Birmingham XI under his leadership after joining from Groningen.
The Dutchman was usually deployed in front of the defence, and used his energy to break up the play and win the ball back – something that has become a key role in modern day football as seen by the impact that N’Golo Kante has had with Leicester City and Chelsea.
Would you like to see this trio, Derby fans? Let us know below.
