Derby County are one of a number of Championship sides interested in signing Middlesbrough’s Adam Clayton, but will Nottingham Forest join the race?
Adam Clayton’s lack of opportunities at Middlesbrough this season has not gone unnoticed.
According to The Yorkshire Post, Leeds United are keen on taking the combative midfielder back to Elland Road five-and-a-half years after he left for Huddersfield Town. Sheffield United reportedly see Clayton as the ideal replacement for the injured Paul Coutts while Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff City and Derby County are also in the race.
The signing of Clayton would certainly do Derby’s promotion prospects no harm. The Rams are currently second in the table and the 28-year-old possesses the tenacity and team ethic that Gary Rowett has brought to the forefront at Pride Park.
But will Derby face competition from their bitter East Midland rivals? Possibly – provided that Aitor Karanka makes a return to management with Nottingham Forest.
HITC sources told us on Tuesday that Karanka is a leading candidate to replace Mark Warburton at the City Ground and the former Middlesbrough boss, who has been out of work since being sacked in March, is a keen admirer of Clayton.
The former Manchester City youngster played a major role as the Spaniard led Boro to promotion back in 2016, and he remained one of the first players on the team-sheet during their one season in the Premier League.
Central midfield may look like one of the strongest areas of Forest’s squad on paper but, at 34, David Vaughan cannot go on forever. And teaming Clayton up with the similarly tough-tackling Liam Bridcutt could go some way to reinforcing a back line that has been breached far too often this season.
In fact, regardless of whether Karanka gets the job or not, Forest should surely be in the mix for Clayton.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
