Derby County have already signed Curtis Davies from Hull City but may bring in another defender this summer amid links with the Robins’ Aden Flint.
Derby County manager Gary Rowett
Gary Rowett’s transfer market nous is already evident at Pride Park. While Derby County have been renowned for paying inflated fees for ill-fitting players in recent seasons, their first signing this summer is a proven, Championship veteran costing just £500,000.
Curtis Davies helped Hull City win the play-off final at Wembley just 13 months ago. And his arrival at Derby following The Tigers relegation from the Premier League as the potential to be one of the bargains of the summer.
As a result, the Derby Telegraph claims that the club have now ended their interest in a deal that had Derby all over it. After all, the report adds that The Rams had bid a hefty £4 million for Newcastle United defender Grant Hanley despite the Scot starting just five games in a disastrous debut season at St James’ Park.
Newcastle United could let Grant Hanley leave
Nonetheless, that does not mean Rowett has finished reinforcing his backline.
“I still think we’ll end up bringing another defender in at some point,” the former Birmigham City boss told the BBC.
And you wonder whether that could mean their interest in Aden Flint remains alive and well. The Sun reported recently that the towering Bristol City centre-back was on Derby’s radar but Aston Villa have been more heavily linked in the last few days.
Bristol City’s Aden Flint
Like Hanley, Flint is valued highly at £5 million. Unlike Hanley, however, the 27-year-old has enjoyed a superb season at the heart of Bristol City’s back line, his influential performances and body-on-the-line approach securing them a third straight season in the Championship.
With the ink still drying on Davies’ contract, could Derby have an all-new defensive partnership to look forward to next season?
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