Derby County look set to miss out on one of their reported transfer targets, with Bristol City set to complete the signing.
Derby County have had a very subdued January transfer window so far.
Tyreece John-Jules is set to renew his loan spell from Arsenal in what will be the Rams’ first and only bit of transfer activity so far, with much of the current focus seemingly on keeping players at the club.
Names like Max Bird, Eiran Cashin, and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing have all been linked with moves away this month, but for the time being, all remain at Pride Park.
Paul Warne will no doubt have his eye on several potential signings before the January 31st deadline. But one player who doesn’t look set to sign is Josh Stokes.
Bristol City set to win race for non-league star Josh Stokes
Reports emerged last month revealing that Derby County were among a number of English Football League sides to have watched over Aldershot Town’s Josh Stokes.
The 19-year-old has so far netted 12 goals in 25 National League outings for Town this season.
Now though, it looks like the teenager is poised for a Championship move, with Bristol Live reporting that Bristol City are hoping to ‘conclude a deal’ for the midfielder.
It’s reported that the Robins are nearing a £250,000 deal for Stokes and that they’ll then send him back on loan to Aldershot for the remainder of the season.
A blow for Derby County, but other names a priority right now
Stokes certainly looks like a star in the making, and this £250,000 fee suggests so.
But that £250,000 fee is what Derby County are hoping to spend on Charlton Athletic’s Corey Blackett-Taylor who looks like a player who could really improve the Rams.
He’s a long-term target for Warne now and the latest on this front is that Derby and Charlton remain in talks over a potential deal.
So missing out on Stokes doesn’t seem like a huge blow for Derby, who certainly have other names higher on their January wish list right now.
But after nearly three weeks of the window with no new names through the door, Warne may definitely be starting to worry about what business his side can actually get done this month.
Most business is concluded in the final week or final days and so there’s hope that the Rams get a few new names through the doors.
But time is rapidly running out.
Derby County go up against Lincoln City in League One this weekend.