Krystian Bielik starred on loan at Birmingham City last season – and the Arsenal-owned midfielder could be set for a spell at Derby County next.
Gary Rowett has made clear that he is not prepared to wait around as he aims to put his stamp on this underachieving Derby County side this summer.
And his first port of call? Add a bit of bite to an often toothless midfield. This perhaps explains why ESPN have linked Derby with a loan move for Arsenal’s defensive midfielder Krystian Bielik.
The 19-year-old Poland youth international is highly-regarded at The Emirates having been signed from Legia Warsaw in his homeland for as much as £2.7 million in January 2015, as reported by the BBC.
And although Bielik’s only appearance in Arsenal colours came in a humiliating 3-0 League Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, the rangy enforcer demonstrated his potential with a fine loan spell at an otherwise abysmal Birmingham City side last season.
Bielik only started eight Championship games but his work-rate and willingness to ‘put the boot in’, not to mention his composure in possession, caught the eye.
Therefore, he’d surely be a more inspired short-term addition than the disastrous Julien De Sart, exiled under Rowett after being signed on loan from Middlesbrough by Steve McClaren.
Cheap alternative?
And Bielik would certainly be a cheaper option to one Kevin Stewart. Sky Sports reported that Derby were among a number of clubs interested in the midfielder who, despite Jurgen Klopp’s admiration, has struggled for opportunities at Liverpool this season.
A willing worker renowned for his relentless hassling of opponents, Stewart is the kind of high-octane youngster the club’s midfield is crying out for.
However, the fact that Liverpool have slapped a £10 million price-tag on his head, per The Telegraph, should push Derby in Bielik’s direction.
If there’s one club who knows that money doesn’t guarantee success, it’s big-spending Derby.
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