Derby County boss Phillip Cocu is a big fan of Chelsea’s Marco van Ginkel.
Newly-appointed Derby County manager Phillip Cocu should target Chelsea’s Marco van Ginkel as his first signing at Pride Park following his success with the midfielder at PSV Eindhoven.
Van Ginkel isn’t expected to feature for Chelsea this coming season. He is coming off the back of a lengthy spell on the side-lines with injury, while competition for places at Stamford Bridge is extremely tough.
Ahead of him in the Blues pecking order are players such as N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ross Barkley, Tiemoue Bakayoko and potentially former Derby loanee Mason Mount.
Frank Lampard’s move to Chelsea from Derby was by all accounts an amicable one. The former Rams boss holds a healthy relationship with owner Mel Morris, and he will know the benefits of the loan system.
Defender Fikayo Tomori, who spent last season on loan at Derby, is an obvious candidate for a potential Pride Park loan move but arguably more important for Phillip Cocu is rebuilding the midfield.
Mason Mount was such an instrumental figure on loan with the Rams last season. His absence will be felt, but also the departures of Craig Bryson (Aberdeen) and Bradley Johnson (Blackburn Rovers) leaves big voids to fill.
Van Ginkel, 26, is an attack-minded midfielder who would be a superb Mount replacement. The Dutch international spent three seasons on loan at PSV under Cocu, becoming a key player.
He netted 29 goals in 56 Eredivisie starts for PSV over the three seasons, helping the club win the league title twice ahead of a wealthier and more-fancied Ajax side.
Van Ginkel has one year left on his contract. Chelsea may feel it would be in their best interests to sell now rather than lose him for free next summer, and Derby have the pulling power in Cocu to attract him to Pride Park.
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