According to a report in the Telegraph, Derby County are among a few Championship clubs keen on signing Huddersfield Town’s out of favour attacker Alex Pritchard.
The 27-year-old has made just five Championship starts for the Terriers this term.
Pritchard can operate as a wide player or through the middle, but his time at Huddersfield has been a frustrating one and he arguably needs a fresh start elsewhere.
Derby, meanwhile, need some fresh impetus in the final third.
Poland international Kamil Jozwiak has an abundance of quality. Yet, in his first season in the Championship in a struggling side, it was always going to take time before we see the best of him.
Martyn Waghorn and Tom Lawrence, meanwhile, are seemingly proven Championship players but the £10 million duo haven’t performed anywhere near their potential top form.
Waghorn, who cost £5 million in 2018, can feature as a number nine or wide forward. He has two goals and two assists in ten Championship starts this season.
The former Ipswich Town forward’s contract expires this coming summer. His versatility and physical presence at this level could be his saving grace when it comes to a contract extension.
Lawrence’s situation, however, seems different and it just hasn’t happened for him.
The Wales international joined for some £5 million from Leicester City in 2017. He was 23 at the time, and many Derby fans expected him to go on and become a top player by now.
But Lawrence’s career has staggered. He is arguably worse now than when he first joined, with his past 18 months plagued by niggling injuries and disciplinary issues.
This season, Lawrence has started 11 leagues games, recording no goals or assists.
Arguably, the former Manchester United youngster needs a fresh start elsewhere. His contract expires in 2022, suggesting his market value will only decrease going forward.
If there is an ideal opportunity to sell him, surely over the next six months will be it.
In Jozwiak, Louie Sibley, Jason Knight and Morgan Whittaker, Derby have cheaper, young talent pushing through and adding Pritchard would only increase their options.
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