Should Derby County make these three signings to push for promotion next season?

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Aden Flint – Bristol City

Derby’s defence has been largely solid over the past season, with Jason Shackell and Richard Keogh forming a formidable partnership at the heart of the back-line, with both playing almost every match this season.

However, with Shackell’s advancing age and the lack of goals scored from set pieces by Derby, Flint of Bristol City would be an excellent signing to add a touch more steel to both defence and attack, particularly as Flint scored more goals than Derby’s defence combined last season.

Bristol City would be vehemently against selling one of their strongest players and there is sure to be Premier League teams circling Flint, but Derby have the bonus of Flint being from Derbyshire so the pull back to his home area could be the all-important lure should a bid arise.

He has been linked to the Rams before following City’s promotion to the Championship, but having now seen how well Flint adapted to the Championship, Derby would be signing an excellent defender should they decide more competition in central defence is needed. A large bid would be needed for City to even consider selling him, but Derby now have spending power behind them so it should not be too much trouble if the price remains reasonable.

There are also two wild-cards for Derby to go for should the need arise. To add more goals to their attack, Luc Castaignos from Eintracht Frankfurt may be worth a go. Castaignos was linked to the Rams under Steve McClaren during his FC Twente days where he scored 37 league goals in 94 appearances, but the 23-year-old’s career has since gone slightly stale, only scoring four goals in 16 appearances for Eintracht.

However, a new start in a new land with a club pushing for the big time could be the change the Dutchman needs to reignite his career and push on to the heights he threatened to reach during his early days at Feyenoord and Inter Milan. A risk, yes, but a potentially bountiful move if the price is right.

A much more outlandish signing would be Fabinho from AS Monaco. The Brazilian right-back is another defender who would be a threat at the goal-scoring end of the pitch, having notched up seven league goals in 44 appearances in Ligue 1 this year.

Presumably on big wages and reluctant to move to a club that has not got guaranteed Premier League football yet, he may be a signing for a top flight team rather than the Rams, but may be worth a bid on the off chance he is available. This is especially valid, given the fact that Ligue 1 is not quite the competition it used to be with PSG dominating the French domestic leagues.

Only 22 years of age and with three Brazil appearances to his name, it may be wise to reel in this particular catch whilst he’s young and let him develop in an upwards pushing Rams side. It would be the transfer of the century for many who follow Derby if pulled off, but his ability to attack and defend with excellent results could become legendary if the Rams dare to move into the ridiculous area of the transfer spectrum.

Everybody will always disagree over play recruitment, but the Rams couldn’t go wrong if these signings were made. An already strong squad made all the stronger in the continuous push for the Premier League.

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