Derby County have had a £250,000 bid rejected for a League One forward.
Despite scoring the third-most goals in League One this season, Derby County are desperate to bolster their attack as they look to achieve promotion.
The Rams already have the likes of James Collins, Martyn Waghorn and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing making significant contributions to their goalscoring record, while Tyreece John-Jules is in talks to extend his loan stay.
Paul Warne wants more depth on either side of the attack though, and he sees Corey Blackett-Taylor as a potential improvement on his current crop.
Corey Blackett-Taylor came up through the youth ranks at Aston Villa, before enduring an underwhelming spell at Tranmere Rovers.
The forward joined Charlton Athletic in 2021 and has enjoyed plenty more success in front of goal over the last two seasons.
This term has seen Blackett-Taylor match last season’s league goal record already (8), as well as doubling his assist tally (6).
With only six months left on his contract at The Valley, Darren Witcoop reported last month that Blackett-Taylor was a ‘long-standing’ target for Derby County.
Football Insider have since reported that they have now had a £250k bid turned down for the 26-year-old, with the club having no intention to sell.
Charlton boss, Michael Appleton, has now addressed the interest in the attacker.
Speaking to London News Online, the head coach said: “I know there’s been a bid rejected. Until a bid gets accepted, he’ll remain our player and be available if he’s fit.
“[Derby County] might have pulling power but unless they come up with a figure that is comfortable for the board and the football club to agree with then it doesn’t matter how much pulling power they’ve got.”
What would Derby County’s attack look like with Blackett-Taylor?
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has comfortably been one of Derby County’s best players this season, grabbing six goals and seven assists – ten of which have come in the last 13 games in the third tier.
The 31-year-old’s best position has been proven to be the left side of attack during the current campaign, though that could prove to be an issue if Corey Blackett-Taylor joins this month. The Charlton star has played the entire season on the left too.
Mendez-Laing did start the season on the right though, and could be forced to swap flanks if Derby sign the Addicks forward.
The Rams’ attack would certainly look a lot more threatening with the pair of them either side of James Collins. Tyreece John-Jules started on the right against Fleetwood, but he has only netted one goal this season and has proven to be rather injury-prone.