Derby County’s prized asset Will Hughes would command a huge transfer fee – though his recent form suggests he may not have started for Newcaslte United.
Since signing for Bournemouth from Leeds United in the summer of a fee potentially rising to £10 million, according to The Guardian, Lewis Cook has been restricted to just 81 minutes of Premier League football – all coming on an opening day defeat to Manchester United.
In fact, since suffering a niggling injury back in October, Cook has been restricted to no more than the odd cup cameo. Therefore, although he has time on his side and potential by the bucketload, few at Newcastle United will rue missing out after expressing an interest in the summer, as reported by The Chronicle.
However, although his reported alternative, Derby County’s Will Hughes, has returned to full fitness after an ACL injury decimated his 2015/16, he may not have been a better option for Rafael Benitez’s side.
The Chronicle reports that the dynamic dribbler was another name on the Spaniard’s radar as he aimed to add some creativity to the centre of Newcastle’s midfield last summer.
And, although The Magpies are now top of the Championship and heading back to the Premier League, it is still an issue that Benitez needs to answer. However, 21-year-old Hughes has done little in recent months to justify his inevitably huge price tag.
Hughes has scored just twice all season and, while he is not a natural goalscorer, you would expect far better for a player tasked with the creative burden. His tally of three assists is a far bigger concern, however.
And, since Gary Rowett replaced Steve McClaren at the helm, Hughes has been left on the bench in each of Derby’s last two Championship games.
Not all Rams fans will agree with Rowett’s team selection but if Hughes cannot command a regular place for a side mired in mid-table, it’s unlikely that he would find a starting place easy to come by at the league leaders.
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