Crystal Palace have released Jordon Mutch.
Former Derby County academy product Jordon Mutch will be on the lookout for a new club this January following his release from Crystal Palace, and he will surely be in high-demand.
Sky Sports report his contract was terminated six months prior to its expiry date, and Vancouver Whitecaps turned down the opportunity to make his loan move permanent after missing out on the MLS playoffs.
Mutch has been linked with Premier League side Cardiff City (Sky Sports), but should Derby try and rival the Bluebirds for his signature considering his situation and previous ties to the club?
The 27-year-old was born in Derby and played for the club as a youth, spending over five years at the academy before departing for Birmingham City alongside academy director Terry Westley.
Mutch went on to play Premier League football with Birmingham, before later having spells at Cardiff, Queens Park Rangers and most recently Palace – featuring in over 75 top-flight games for the three clubs.
Now a free agent, the midfielder still has his prime years ahead of him and Derby next summer will almost certainly be on the lookout for new midfield options with so many Rams players set to be out of contract.
Midfielders Tom Huddlestone, Craig Bryson, Joe Ledley, Jacob Butterfield and Bradley Johnson all see their contracts expire in the summer, while George Thorne remains out of the first-team picture with the Championship promotion contenders.
With Mason Mount and Harry Wilson to return to their parent clubs after their loan deals finish, Derby will be left with just George Evans and Duane Holmes as their only other two senior midfield players.
Mutch would be an ideal acquisition for the Rams and many supporters will feel he has unfinished business at the club with the player departing Pride Park before his Derby career even began.
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