Derby County need reinforcements at left-back.
According to a report in the Mirror, free agent Ashley Cole has received offers from Championship clubs following his release from MLS side LA Galaxy this past week.
The report claims the 37-year-old is keen on a return to English football, and one Championship side who may be on the lookout for extra strength in the left-back area is Frank Lampard’s Derby County.
The Rams started the season with three fit left-backs in Scott Malone, Craig Forsyth and academy product Max Lowe. But the latter is out on loan at Aberdeen, and Forsyth suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage to his left knee in the recent defeat to Aston Villa, ruling him out long-term.
Another left-back on Derby’s books is Marcus Olsson, but the Sweden international is another who is out with a long-term injury making the left-back slot at Derby somewhat of a cursed position.
Lampard can’t expect to rely on Malone to feature every week without some sort of back-up, and instead of recalling Lowe – who by all accounts is playing well up in Scotland – Ashley Cole could be a solution.
The former England international was one of Lampard’s long-term teammates at Chelsea, with the duo winning multiple Premier League trophies, as well as the Champions League in 2012.
While Cole may not be the marauding fullback he once was, the experienced left-back could certainly provide a job offering cover for Malone, and Lampard will know he can place his trust in the player.
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