REPORT: Derby Cnty: Beating Birmingham City in transfer race will reassure Pride Park fa…Read More

Derby County will be hoping to beat League One side Birmingham City to the signing of Karamoko Dembélé after a summer-long transfer saga.

The 21-year-old is currently playing for Stade Brest in France, but spent last season on loan at Blackpool in the third tier, scoring eight goals and picking up 13 assists in 39 league appearances. He also found the back of the net in the FA Cup against newly promoted League Two side Bromley in the first round of the competition.

However, the former Celtic wonderkid looks likely to head back to England on a permanent basis, with both Derby and Birmingham battling it out to acquire his services for the long-term future, according to Alan Nixon.

The promise of Championship football has put the Rams in the driving seat for the deal. However, Blues do currently have Siriki Dembélé, Karamoko’s older brother, playing for the club.

Moving to Derby is beneficial for both parties

The Rams are in need of more youth on the wings, with Corey Blackett-Taylor, Kayden Jackson, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Tom Barkhuizen all currently battling it out for a chance to play out on the flanks.

Mendez-Laing is currently Derby’s first-choice winger, having proven himself as the club’s talisman last season. However, Dembélé will cause good competition on the other side, and will assure fans that the club is prepared for the season.

The London-born player can bring something new to DE24 if he does join, with his pace and low centre of gravity two key assets to his game. His output is also extremely enticing, and is much better than that of Barkhuizen and Jackson, while he had a similar campaign to Blackett-Taylor and Mendez-Laing in 2023/24 in terms of numbers.