Derby County are interested in signing Blackpool winger CJ Hamilton.
According to Football Insider, Derby are one of three clubs looking to ‘plot’ a move for Hamilton in the upcoming January transfer window.
The two teams that are also looking to sign Hamilton are of Championship sides Huddersfield Town and Queens Park Rangers.
Derby are said to be keen to strengthen in January in order to mount a promotion bid, with the Championship sides ‘desperate to bolster’ their attacking options in the new year.
His contract expires at the end of the season after signing a one-year extension following Blackpool’s relegation to League One.
Who is CJ Hamilton?
Hamilton is a 28-year-old winger, who has been at Blackpool since 2020.
He has made over 100 appearances for the Tangerines in that time and has played 18 times for them in League One this season, scoring once and assisting six.
Being one of Blackpool’s main threats operating on the right wing, Hamilton can also play in the left wing and in attacking midfield.
He has also represented his nation, the Republic of Ireland, on one occasion in June 2022, coming off the bench in a defeat to Ukraine in the UEFA Nations League.
He started his career at Sheffield United, speaking time on loan at Halifax Town and Gateshead, before moving on to Mansfield Town in 2016, where he would spend the next four years.
Should Derby sign him?
Hamilton would be a quality signing for Derby, however, he is not someone they need.
The Rams already have plenty of depth on the wings, with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Tom Barkhuizen and Kane Wilson already occupying those spots.
Mendez-Laing in particular has been in fine form, so it would be hard for Hamilton to come in and Nick his starting spot off of him.
Also, it may even be hard for Derby to get him in the first place. You would not be surprised if Hamilton would rather pick Huddersfield or Queens Park Rangers purely to play Championship football.
He would also be offered more money, too.