Derby County academy graduate Max Bird is on the verge of leaving the club for Bristol City and Paul Warne must lineup a midfield replacement.
Bristol City confirmed the permanent signing of Max Bird from Derby in the January transfer window, with the 23-year-old returning to Pride Park for the remainder of the campaign.
Despite being adamant about not letting the talented midfielder depart midway through the season, Paul Warne had to settle for the above agreement with the Robins.
Bird caught the eye of the Championship side with his impressive performances, scoring five and assisting seven from midfield in 32 League One matches.
Sadly, Bird’s involvement has been restricted of late by a calf injury, appearing for the first time in eight matches during the 1-0 win over Cambridge United – a 21-minute cameo from the bench.
The attacking midfielder will play his final game for Derby next weekend as he looks to cap off his 14 years of service with a promotion.
Derby County must look at ‘incredible’ talent to replace Max Bird
Derby’s promotion to the Championship after facing Carlisle only adds to their allure, especially with the need to fill Bird’s spot. A local replacement could be Cameron Brannagan from Oxford United.
Brannagan, a Liverpool academy product praised as “outstanding” by Jurgen Klopp, has consistently been one of League One’s top midfielders. With 11 goals and nine assists this season and impressive stats like the highest rating (7.53) and second-highest key passes per game (2.0) according to Sofascore, he surpasses Bird’s contributions by far.
As Brannagan’s contract expires soon, securing him for Derby, where he’s likely to thrive in the Championship, would be a smart move.
Cameron Brannagan and Ebou Adams would be a mouth-watering partnership
Ebou Adams has been a game-changer since joining on loan from Cardiff City, with some crediting him for the potential playoff spot or even automatic promotion. His midfield prowess as a relentless tackler has stood out, covering every inch of the pitch effortlessly.
Securing Adams permanently should be Derby’s top priority this summer. While Warne is interested, he acknowledges that Adams’ stellar performances will draw attention from other clubs. Imagine the dynamic duo of the “incredible” Brannagan and Adams in The Rams’ midfield—an enticing prospect that could bring a winning edge with their goal-scoring and playmaking abilities combined with Adams’ defensive strength.
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