Derby County may finally plug an important position in this transfer window, as Paul Warne closes in on a £1.4 million move for a 6 foot 5 giant.
Derby supporters can be happy with the transfer business completed by Paul Warne and his recruitment team. The Rams have made five new additions, predominantly in midfield and attack, while Crystal Palace starlet David Ozoh is set to become their next signing of the summer on loan.
Warne has found it relatively straightforward to plug gaps in midfield and forward areas however, signing a new number-one goalkeeper to replace Joe Wildsmith has become a problem.
Wildsmith was released from his Derby contract in June and since then, work has been ongoing behind the scenes to source a replacement.
The Rams have been linked to numerous names, including Mathew Ryan, Viktor Johanssen, Daniel Iversen and Marek Rodak, though talks have either broken down or the player has joined a different club instead.
Luckily, it appears that fans won’t have to wait much longer for a new goalkeeper to arrive after agreeing a deal with one talented shot-stopper.
Derby County agree £1.4m deal to sign Jacob Widell Zetterstrom from Djurgårdens IF
Last week, Derby placed an offer on the table for Djurgårdens IF goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.
It was instantly rejected by the Swedish top division side, as while details of the bid weren’t disclosed, it wasn’t close to their valuation of the 26-year-old.
Now, it appears the Rams have stepped up their interest by placing a bid to sign the towering gloveman, who is currently starring for his side in the Allsvenskan league.
According to journalist Anel Avdic, a bid of SEK 20 million (£1.4 million) has been agreed with Zetterstrom set to undergo his medical before being unveiled as the newest Derby recruit.
Shelling out that much money on a first-choice goalkeeper is a show of their ambition and faith placed in the Swedish international, who previously attracted interest from Liverpool and Wolves.
Derby still need another goalkeeper after Zetterstrom
Zetterstrom looks like a shrewd addition on paper. Dubbed the best goalkeeper in the Allsvenskan currently, the ‘spectacular’ talent has kept seven clean sheets in 15 league appearances.
With his side second in the table, seven points behind runaway leaders Malmo, Zetterstrom is used to the pressure of expectation.
That will be similar at Derby, as not only will have 25,000+ fans cheering him on at Pride Park, he’ll have to keep his cool in the heat of a relegation battle.
At the age of 26, he also has the best years of his career ahead and that bodes well for Warne, who has looked to the future with some of his additions, including 22-year-old Kenzo Goudmijn.
Once the deal for Zetterstrom is wrapped up and officially confirmed, the Rams can begin to look for a second or third-choice keeper.
Josh Vickers is the only keeper at the club right now and after watching Scott Loach leave in the summer, competition for both the Swede and Vickers is needed.
A pool of three competitive goalkeepers, perhaps one being vastly experienced, is exactly what Derby need heading into the Championship.