Derby County is ready for life again in the Championship after being promoted from League One last season.
The Rams had a difficult start to the season, with many fans asking for manager Paul Warne to be fired, but they had an outstanding second half of the season, finishing second behind champions Portsmouth.
So far, Pride Park has been a busy summer for Warne as he rebuilds his squad for the Championship, and a number of senior players, including Joe Wildsmith, Scott Loach, Conor Houirhane, Korey Smith, Martyn Waghorn, and Dwight Gayle, have left the club due to contract expirations.
Derby have made one new acquisition this summer, with midfielder Ben Osborn joining from Sheffield United, and they are also expected to take Swansea City striker Jerry Yates on loan, but that is not the end of the club’s transfer activity.
According to Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas, the Rams will recruit former Ipswich Town striker Kayden Jackson on a three-year deal after his contract at Portman Road expires this weekend.
Jackson joined the Tractor Boys from Accrington Stanley in the summer of 2018, but was let go this summer after the club was promoted to the Premier League.
The 30-year-old had mixed experiences in Suffolk, but he was a key member of the squad that won back-to-back promotions from League One to the top division in the last two seasons.
Derby County fan pundit issues verdict on imminent Kayden Jackson signing
FLW Derby County fan commentator Shaun Woodward confesses he has reservations about Jackson’s acquisition owing to his dismal goal scoring record, but he believes the striker will prosper at Pride Park.
“As for Kayden Jackson I’m not convinced he makes us better, but he does give us some versatility in the wide areas and can go up front as well,” Shaun told reporters.
“He’s not very prolific in his career, but Nathaniel Mendez-Laing wasn’t either, and he came to Derby and found a home, so perhaps Jackson could be that type of guy, come to Derby, find a home, and we can squeeze a couple of really good years out of him.
“I wouldn’t be disappointed if we signed Jackson; I just don’t think he’s going to make us better, but we need numbers, and he could possibly do a Mendez-Laing, so we could be sitting here in a year saying what a brilliant move it was to sign him.”
“Hopefully two good players in, and with Osborn and a new goalkeeper, we’d start to look like we’ve got quite a competitive squad, so hopefully it’s all going to be good.”
Kayden Jackson could be a shrewd signing for Derby County
It’s impossible to dispute with Shaun that Jackson’s goal scoring record is poor, but he could be a valuable addition for Derby.
Jackson produced three goals and five assists in 33 appearances for Ipswich last season as they were promoted to the Premier League, and the fact that he started some critical games near the conclusion of the season demonstrates Kieran McKenna’s confidence in him.
He will add variety to the Rams’ forward line by being able to play out wide or up front, and if given the opportunity to start on a regular basis at Pride Park, he may recapture his greatest form.
The signing of Osborn, as well as the impending signings of Yates and Jackson, indicate that Warne is looking for Championship experience this summer, which might be a wise strategy as Derby seek to establish themselves in the second tier.
