Derby dodged a bullet as reported former target Yanic Wildschut is released by Norwich

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Norwich City have released Yanic Wildschut who was a reported former Derby County target.

Norwich City’s official website have announced their retained list and one key name which has been declared released is winger Yanic Wildschut, who once reportedly attracted the attentions of Derby County.

According to a report by HITC, Derby County saw a £6 million bid turned down for Wildschut in January 2017.

At the time, the winger was considered one of the best prospects in the Championship as he helped Wigan Athletic to promotion. It was said he was even attracting Premier League interest.

Norwich ultimately won the race for his signature after the Dutchman handed in a transfer request at the DW Stadium. The Canaries paid £7 million for his services, HITC understands.

Derby at the time were managed by Steve McClaren. The Rams had gone on an excellent run of form to push for a play-off spot, after being in the bottom three following the first nine games of the campaign under Nigel Pearson.

But a failure to strengthen in January coincided with a poor run of form, prompting McClaren to be sacked a second time by the Rams. The Midlands club ultimately fell short of the top six that year.

Missing out on Wildschut, however, now looks to have been a blessing in disguise. The 27-year-old signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at Norwich, yet he has failed miserably to live up to expectations.

Wildschut has made just 13 league starts for Norwich. This season, he has spent the campaign on loan at struggling Bolton Wanderers, making just four starts as the Trotters suffered relegation to League One.

While Derby haven’t exactly been a major success in the transfer market over the past few seasons, it could quite easily have been worse for the Rams with Wildschut now on the lookout for a new club.