A James Collins upgrade – Derby County must renew transfer interest in 28-goal striker

Derby County gained automatic promotion to the Championship with a final-day win over Carlisle on Saturday.

Derby County’s Summer Transfer Plans

Paul Warne has assembled an experienced squad at Pride Park, with many of the players understanding what is required to succeed in the second division.

Fortunately for the Rams, they won’t need to make significant adjustments and will instead focus on improving quality incrementally.

Nonetheless, there are a few obvious faults in the roster, and most would agree that the club needs to score more goals.

Derby County had an earlier interest in Macaulay Langstaff.

Macaulay Langstaff, a Notts County striker, is reportedly a target for Derby in the January transfer window.

The 27-year-old scored 42 goals to help the club return to the Football League, and he added 28 more in the fourth division.

Obviously, the transition to the Championship is enormous, and there are concerns about Langstaff’s ability to handle it.

But, is he a player that Derby should chase after promotion? Here, our writers offer their ideas…

Chris Gallagher

It is a no-brainer. Derby might benefit greatly from this business opportunity.

There are legitimate concerns about Langstaff, and some critics will rightfully point out that he has scored in the National League and League Two. Those who have seen him play will see that he has excellent instincts in and around the box, and he maintains his calm when opportunities arise.

Derby County may struggle to score goals in the Championship, thus Warne should look to add two forwards this summer.

Gary Neville said on the newest Stick to Football broadcast that he turned down the opportunity to speak with Middlesbrough and Derby about manager vacancies.

We know the Rams won’t be able to spend a lot of money this summer, and neither should they. Instead, they will explore for potential bargains and offer opportunities to players at lower levels.

At 27, Langstaff is a player who can make an immediate impact, so he fits the criteria of what Derby should be seeking for, and he would undoubtedly appreciate the opportunity to move to Pride Park. So it’s a prospective contract that benefits both the organisation and the player.

Ben Wignall

One thing is certain: Derby County will need at least one new striker this summer, given their current alternatives are all over the age of 30.

For the majority of the final two months of the season, Paul Warne returned to his trusted wing-back system, and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was converted into a striker. Derby’s star man, however, isn’t as effective through the middle, and with Conor Washington the only other option currently contracted to the club for next season, reinforcements are required.

That is where Langstaff comes back into the picture; the man is a prolific goalscorer who has demonstrated that for three seasons with Gateshead and Notts County, and he appears to be the type of late bloomer you’d expect to keep scoring as he progresses up the leagues.

What Langstaff definitely needs as a penalty box predator is service, which he should get from wide players like as Mendez-Laing, Kane Wilson, and Louie Sibley.

It may cost more than £1 million to sign Langstaff away from Notts County, but it would be a worthwhile investment for David Clowes, and despite scoring 14 goals in League One this season, Langstaff would be an upgrade over James Collins.

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