Derby County are preparing to battle two EFL clubs for a 25-year-old attacker.
Derby County are still waiting to make their first signing of the January transfer window, but remain on the hunt for a new forward before deadline day.
The Rams are already deep within their pursuit of Charlton Athletic’s Corey Blackett-Taylor and have seen a £250,000 bid rejected for the winger.
However, they still have a long list of attacking options whom they are considering over the next couple of weeks.
Recent reports have claimed that Derby are now keeping tabs on Wigan Athletic’s Callum Lang, while Darren Witcoop has stated that they will compete with Rotherham United and Portsmouth for his signature.
Witcoop wrote: “Rotherham among the clubs keeping tabs on Wigan forward Callum Lang. Has been looked at by the likes of Portsmouth and Derby in League One but ex-Latics boss Leam Richardson, who is looking to bolster his Millers attack, is a big fan of Lang.”
Who is Callum Lang?
Callum Lang joined Wigan Athletic’s academy in 2013 and went onto make his senior debut four years later.
The forward’s breakthrough season came in League One during the 2021-22 campaign, where he netted nine goals in 23 appearances.
He went onto become a key player for Wigan the following year, bagging 22 goal contributions as the club won promotion up to the Championship.
Lang had less success in the second tier, claiming four assists as The Latics suffered a quick relegation. He hasn’t looked the same in front of goal since his first time in League One, managing only two goals and two assists this term.
Lang has spent a majority of the campaign as Wigan’s captain as they sit 18th in the third tier, though he has failed to find the net since his goal against Shrewsbury Town in October.
Wigan’s downfall has led to a number of clubs tracking the attacker, though it is unclear how much he would set Derby back this month.
Lang still has a year-and-a-half remaining on his £5.4k-per-week contract at the DW Stadium, so could be more likely to leave the club when he enters his final 12 months in the summer.
Lang could provide a cheaper alternative to Corey Blackett-Taylor for The Rams, though he may not be the man who will score the goals to help boost their chances of winning promotion back to the Championship this season.