Derby County have set their sights on a move for this soon-to-be free agent striker.
Derby County are returning to the Championship after a 2nd place finish in League One, and a two-year hiatus in the third tier.
The Rams though will be right up against it next season, with Birmingham City’s relegation on 50 points showcasing the growing level of quality in the Championship.
Paul Warne and his side will need to add quality during the summer transfer window, with a new goalkeeper and some more attacking threat looking like two key priorities; the latter especially with Tom Barkhuizen, Dwight Gayle, and James Collins all currently out of contract next month.
And Derby County are now being linked with a move for a soon-to-be free agent striker.
Derby County eyeing Josh Windass deal
Sheffield Wednesday striker Josh Windass sees his contract expire this summer, following four seasons with the South Yorkshire club.
He’s scored 40 goals in that time, including the play-off winner for Sheffield Wednesday last year and the final goal of his side’s 2023/24 season.
It proved to be a goal that helped keep Wednesday in the Championship where they’ll go up against Derby County next time round.
But there’s uncertainty over Windass’ future at the club. He’s out of contract in the summer but in talks over a potential new deal.
Journalist Joe Crann though says that there’s emerging interest in the 30-year-old, with Stoke City, Hull City, West Brom, and Derby County all interested in the striker.
Josh Windass to Derby County analysis
Windass is certainly tried and tested in the Championship, which is something Derby County need ahead of their return to the second tier.
And although Windass struggled with injury in 2023/24, making just 25 Championship appearances, he did score score six goals and claim two assists, with goals in each of the last three games of the season.
So he goes into the summer fit and firing and interest in his services, especially from the likes of West Brom and Hull City, is a credit to his quality and playing style.
And for Derby in either a 3-5-2 or a 4-3-3 formation, Windass could flourish; with Wednesday he either plays as one of two strikers or as a loan striker, and that kind of flexibility could be ideal for Warne.
What’s more is that Windass can operate as a no.10 if needed, so he’s certainly a useful player for a Championship team.
As per Sofascore, Windass finished the season as Sheffield Wednesday’s third-highest rated player, with an xG of 6.56 across the season, recording 2.1 shots per game and 0.8 shots on target (both most of anyone at Sheffield Wednesday).
So Windass, given recent form and stats, seems to be in peak form right now, and a constant threat to opposition defences. It seems like a long shot for Derby to bring him in with a new Wednesday deal seemingly likely, but it’s the right kind of ambition that the Rams need to show in the transfer market this summer.
That said, if Derby County can get a deal for Windass over the line, it would be a really positive start to their summer.
GET MORE NEWS HERE
Leave a Reply