Derby supporters have plenty to be excited about for the upcoming Championship season, with the fixture list now released and the new home kit unveiled. Adding to the good news, the Rams are reportedly close to signing Ben Osborn, who is set to undergo his medical on Thursday.
Osborn would be Derby’s first summer signing after his departure from Sheffield United, and the former Nottingham Forest player might soon be joined by a new striker.
Derby County have ‘fended off competition’ for Swansea striker Jerry Yates.
Journalist Pete O’Rourke reports that Derby have fended off interest from Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers, QPR, and Stoke City to secure the loan signing of forward Jerry Yates from Swansea City.
Derby look to have beaten off interest from Blackburn, QPR and Stoke for the loan signing of Swansea striker Jerry Yates. #DCFC #Swans #Rovers #QPRFC #SCFC pic.twitter.com/NhlRwJSDJW
— Pete O'Rourke (@SportsPeteO) June 27, 2024
Strengthening the forward position is a priority for Warne, who currently only has Conor Washington and James Collins available as the team enters pre-season.
That pair alone won’t be sufficient in the second tier, and since Derby scored the fewest goals among the teams that finished in the league’s top six, enhancing their attack is essential for staying competitive. At 27, Yates is an experienced Championship striker, having scored eight times for Swansea last season in 43 appearances, helping Luke Williams’ team finish in 14th place.
Although Yates hasn’t been the most prolific striker with just 31 goals in 152 second-tier appearances, there is a significant reason why he could be a strong addition to Derby.
Paul Warne collaborated with Jerry Yates during their time at Rotherham United.
Paul Warne managed Jerry Yates for a short period at Rotherham United, where Yates made 46 appearances over four seasons from 2014 to 2018. During this time, the Millers fought for promotion from League One and later struggled to survive in the Championship.
Now the Derby boss, Warne mentored Yates as a young player. Today, Yates is an experienced center forward whom Warne has previously praised. In 2022, while Yates was at Blackpool, Warne remarked, “They’ve got Jerry up front. We had a team meeting yesterday and showed them how hard Jerry works and what a good player he is. You sort of forget that there are only a few in our dressing room that played with him. He was brilliant here and I loved working with him.”
Warne also noted that he wouldn’t relish Yates causing problems for their defense. He referred to the striker’s exceptional work rate and ability to press and force the opposition into errors, a quality Warne looks forward to observing at Pride Park.
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