Paul Warne has made it clear that he wants to keep Ebou Adams beyond his loan spell at Derby County.
Derby County confirmed the loan signing of Cardiff City midfielder Ebou Adams towards the end of the January transfer window.
Paul Warne wanted to bolster an engine room that lacked a ball-winner, someone who was willing to put their body on the line for the team and complement the technical attributes of Conor Hourihane and Max Bird.
Adams has made an incredible impact on the Rams midfield despite only playing three matches for the club so far.
On his debut against Charlton Athletic, he was hailed for his terrific display and he was outstanding once again in the 3-0 victory over Exeter City last weekend.
The 28-year-old appears to be the missing piece in the middle of the park and is currently showing the form that earned him a spot in the League Two Team of the Season in the 2021/22 campaign.
After making such a sensational start to life at Pride Park, Warne has outlined his ambitions to bring the Gambian international into the club on a permanent basis in the summer.
Paul Warne wants permanent Ebou Adams signing
Warne and Adams have hit it off instantly and the fact the Derby boss has already spoken of his desire to sign him permanently just shows how good he has been.
Speaking to the Derby Telegraph, Warne said: “He is very much a Cardiff player and will back himself to fight for a place in their team. However, the weirdest thing is while you want him to be great, if he is outstanding then everybody else sees it too.”
“If he plays well for us and is part of a promotion season, then he won’t be a secret. Wanting to keep certain players and making it happen are too different things, but I would like to be in that conversation. He is an ideal fit for us but there is a long way to go before those decisions are made.”
A permanent deal for Adams would be perfect
Adams has shown his class as a tough-tackling machine while his ability to come out on top in most duels is impressive.
In his first matches in League One, he has averaged 2.3 tackles per game, 1.7 interceptions and has won 63% duels per game (6.7).
He’s slotted into the heart of midfield like a glove and he’s acted as a defensive screen to enable the likes of Bird and Hourihane to flourish further forward.
Previously, there was an onus on that duo to do a lot of defending, but the introduction of Adams has relieved them of that burden and a permanent deal would be perfect for the club.
Not only is he reaching the prime years of his career, but he’s also experienced football in the Championship, so it stands Derby in good stead if they were to get promoted.
Of course, if he continues dazzling on the pitch, more clubs will be circling for his signature, but that shouldn’t stop the Rams from pursuing a permanent deal for him.