Derby County should make a bid to sign forgotten Burnley man Tendayi Darikwa, and a move for the right back would tick all the right boxes.
Tendayi Darikwa has not made a Premier League appearance for Burnley this season
Darikwa has endured a tough spell at Turf Moor after moving from Chesterfield in the summer of 2015, after previously making 150 appearances for the Spireites. He started as the club’s first choice right-back but has not made a league appearance for the first team since December 2015. He has had to settle for cameo appearances in cup games for Burnley.
The Nottingham born defender will be assessing his options when this season ends as he looks no closer to forcing his way into Clarets boss Sean Dyche’s first team plans. A bid for Darikwa would represent a smart piece of business and the move would benefit all parties concerned, and it would be unlikely to command a significant transfer fee.
After spending the previous transfer windows splashing the cash, the Rams look set to apply a different approach in the upcoming transfer window. Gary Rowett will look to trim the wage budget by moving on underachieving players to fund the signing of new players.
One player that looks set to fall victim to the squad overhaul is Republic of Ireland international right back Cyrus Christie whose current deal runs out in the summer. After featuring just twice since Rowett’s appointment, it seems likely that Christie will be heading for the exit door at Pride Park.
35-year-old Northern Ireland full-back and utility man Chris Baird has been preferred by Rowett in the right back slot and has just signed a one-year contract extension with the club (BBC Sport). Due to Baird’s age, Rowett will be likely to bring a new right back to the club.
Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs in action with Burnley’s Tendayi Darikwa
Rams fans have been calling out for the club to sign a right back in the mould of Andre Wisdom, who enjoyed a highly successful loan spell at Pride Park from Liverpool in Derby’s 2013/14 season where they narrowly missed out on promotion.
Darikwa fits the criteria and like Wisdom, he possesses natural strength, is strong in the air and has a turn of pace. Despite his lack of first team action, if Derby were to bring Darikwa to the club early on in the summer transfer window, he would get a full pre-season under his belt and will be ready to prove his worth in the Championship.
Gary Rowett was renowned for spotting a bargain buy during his time at Birmingham City and the potential signing Darikwa would most certainly fall within this category.
Burnley’s Tendayi Darikwa has only made 29 appearances for Burnley since joining in 2015
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