The Sky Bet Championship is spicing up pretty well, with Derby County being one of the prime candidates for the play-offs after a patchy start. Placed seventh in the league after their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Leeds United, they are five points adrift of Sheffield Wednesday who are sixth. However, a loss against a side better than them should not hurt as much as their injury woes involving their left-backs.
The Rams are struggling due to unavailability of four left backs in the shapes of Marcus Olsson, Max Lowe, Craig Forsyth as well as Ikechi Anya (who is conventionally a wide man but is accustomed to being employed on the left-back slot as well). Manager Steve McClaren must address this issue before the ongoing transfer window comes to an end and here are three players he should consider signing (on loan, if not permanent) in order to meet the needs of his side.
Tyrone Mings
Bournemouth’s centre-back Tyrone Mings is one of the players Derby County can possibly lay their hands on. Signed from Ipswich Town in the summer of 2015, the 23-year-old is a versatile defender who is capable enough to play at the heart of defence as well as operate in the left-back slot. However, Mings has failed to put on the displays one expected him to after his move to the Dean Court (now known as the Vitality Stadium) owing to his long-term injury.
Besides that, he looked a shadow of his former self and was responsible in part for Bournemouth’s miserable defeat at the hands of Hull City on Saturday. A loan move to brush his man up for good might to be hovering over Eddie Howe’s mind, and with Derby County seriously scrambling for left-backs, Mings might be allowed to leave on loan considering the game time he is likely to get at the Championship club.
Brendan Galloway
Everton left-back Brendan Galloway is another player whom McClaren can possibly target. The 20-year-old is currently on loan to West Bromwich Albion but has been barely used, and it is reported that Tony Pulis wants to bring a premature end to the loan spell. Ronald Koeman already has Leighton Baines and Bryan Oviedo for the left-back role and thus, Derby County can pounce on the opportunity.
The Zimbabwe-born defender is a youngster with huge potential but he performs well in patches. He can make blistering runs up to the final third, chalk out decent crosses and is defensively stable too. He is young and just needs a good loan spell to challenge for the starting berth at Everton.
Martin Olsson
Martin Olsson, who plies his trade at the left-back, is the twin brother of Marcus. The 28-year-old is not having the best of times and thus, Derby County must monitor this prospective target very closely. Still a valued commodity, the Swedish has been with the Canaries since 2013 and helped them to earn promotion back to the Premier League in 2015. Besides, he has plenty of international experience as well and can assist the Rams in their quest for promotion, either by dipping into the loan system or by signing him permanently.
