Former Derby County boss Steve McClaren sent scouts to watch Bjorn Johnsen in Scottish Premiership action for Hearts in November.
Derby County fans can expect to be cheering on a new-look team next season with Gary Rowett aiming to make a splash in his first transfer window as Rams boss.
So far, experienced centre-back Curtis Davies has signed on at Pride Park after being relegated from the Premier League with Hull City and it appears that Liverpool misfit Andre Wisdom, who enjoyed a fine loan spell at Derby in 2013/14, will not be far behind.
According to Sky Sports, Derby have agreed a £2 million fee that could rise to £4.5 million.
Andre Wisdom
Therefore, with the defence suitably reinforced, it appears that the next issue on Rowett’s agenda should be to improve a strike force bettered by every other team in the top half of the Championship table last season.
Though it appears that a deal for Bjorn Johnsen is dead in the water. Back in November, former Derby County manager Steve McClaren admitted that he had sent scouts to watch Hearts in the Scottish Premiership with the 25-year-old striker one of the main reasons for the trip, the Derby Telegraph reports.
Lucky escape?
The New York-born Norwegian international had endured a nomadic career, arriving in Edinburgh via spells in Spain, Portugal and Bulgaria, but he appeared at home at Tynecastle. At least initially.
Tynecastle
Scoring or creating eight goals in 15 games, Johnsen was awarded the league’s player of the month award for November. And, a few weeks later, the 6ft 5ins front man admitted he was flattered by interest and aspired to playing for a club of Derby’s stature.
However, his form since suggests he may be left disappointed. Since the turn of the year, Johnsen has played 16 games in Hearts’ colours and has failed to find the net once.
And he told The Scotsman that his future was up in the air, despite admitting that his relationship with manager Ian Cathro was ‘fine’ following an altercation in a defeat to St Johnstone.
Either way, it appears that Derby will not be his destination.
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