Derby County have been linked with Newcastle United’s Dan Barlaser.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, Derby County are heading up several Championship clubs including promotion rivals Middlesbrough interested in signing Newcastle United’s Dan Barlaser.
The report claims Barlaser’s current contract at Newcastle expires in six months and with progress on a potential renewal slow, Derby could be ready to take advantage and sign him on a free transfer next summer.
The Rams bringing in the 21-year-old ace makes plenty of sense as manager Frank Lampard must plan ahead to a potential midfield exodus next summer with as many as five players set to leave.
Tom Huddlestone, Craig Bryson, Jacob Butterfield and Bradley Johnson are all out of contract next summer, and with the players ageing and seeing their influence wane, it’s time to move in a different direction.
Mason Mount, on a season-long loan at Chelsea, is another regular first-teamer who probably won’t be back at Pride Park next season as the talented England U21 international may remain at Stamford Bridge.
Lampard has already gone about lowering the average age of Derby’s squad with the likes of Duane Holmes and George Evans arriving, but next summer will see a bigger turnaround with so many players out of contract.
Barlaser is predominantly a central midfielder and he has shown his potential this season out on loan at Accrington Stanley, making 16 league starts and starring for the League One club.
He fits the bill of the type of player Lampard is looking for at Derby – energetic, comfortable in possession and importantly possessing plenty of potential to be able to grow within a young group of players.
Aside from bidding to reach the Premier League, Lampard has a big job on his hands with the Rams as he needs to change the culture and overhaul a squad of ageing, big-name players who have failed to earn promotion after several attempts of trying.
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