With 1 win in their last 10 games in the Championship, Derby County squandered what looked like an excellent opportunity for them to bag a play-off spot. After their poor run of form of late, the sacking of Steve McLaren hurt the credentials of the club in the worst possible manner. As a result, the Rams are currently placed 10th on the league table with 53 points, 9 points behind Sheffield Wednesday who holds the last playoff spot, i.e., 6th.
Gary Rowett has been appointed to change the complexion of the club and earn them a promotion next season (as uplift looks unlikely this term around). One of the elements which would dictate their output would be how they utilise their money in the summer transfer window. The former Birmingham City manager has to be bang on with his potential transfer targets and one of the players whom he could put on his radar is Bristol City’s, Aden Flint.
Flint has been thoroughly resilient for the Robins, making 1.3 tackles, 1.6 interceptions, 8.7 clearances, 0.4 dribbles and 1 block on an average from the 38 games he has played in the second tier of English football this season.
Moreover, he also has 4 goals and 1 assist to his name which does indicate that he could really chip in with odd goals as well. The defensive sector of Derby County is arguably the frontier which needs immediate resurrection as they have been victimised more often than not as they have conceded goals late into the game, which has really tarnished their image and this is where Flint should come into the equation.
The 27-year-old central defender is a towering figure who has the last laugh whilst aerial duels most of the times and his mammoth structure also enables him to score goals from the set-pieces. Strong, technically sound and very compact, his resilience is exemplary and so is his knack to bail out his side from tight situations and without any shadow of a doubt, he would be an ideal addition to Rowett’s outfit.
Mel Morris has time and again splashed the cash when it is needed and backing Rowett would be necessary once the curtains of the summer transfer window get lifted. It would certainly not be cheap to lure Flint to the Pride Park Stadium and given the scenario that has forked out against the Rams, they must need to add him to bolster their squad.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored
