According to the official Premier League retained list, former Derby County target Connor Wickham is available to sign on a free transfer after his Crystal Palace release.
The 28-year-old joined Palace in 2015 on an initial five-year deal.
Wickham initially found himself leading the line for Palace on a regular basis. However, he suffered a serious knee injury in 2016 which kept him out of action for two years.
Wickham played just 12 top-flight games for Palace thereafter.
The Eagles are set for a summer overhaul following the departure of manager Roy Hodgson. A whopping 22 players are out of contract and set for release.
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Andros Townsend, Gary Cahill and Connor Wickham are among them.
Derby have been linked with a move for Cahill in recent weeks. But another player of interest could be Wickham after the Rams reportedly sought a deal for him last summer.
Football Insider claimed the Rams plotted a move for him last October. A deal ahead of last summer’s transfer deadline, however, failed to materialise.
Wickham’s next move is likely to be back to the Championship. He spent a spell on loan at Sheffield Wednesday in the 2019-20 campaign, impressing former Owls boss Garry Monk.
“We are trying to work in a way that we can keep the players as fresh as we can but he is contributing brilliantly. Performing brilliant. I am very pleased with him and we are seeing what he is capable of at this moment,” Monk told the Examiner.
Derby’s attacking situation:
Derby must strengthen their attacking options this summer.
Colin Kazim-Richards turns 35 in August. Lee Gregory has returned to Stoke City after his loan spell at Pride Park, while Martyn Waghorn’s contract is set to expire.
Wickham, standing at 6ft 3inch, still has plenty of ability. At 28, he will have another good few years ahead of him and on a free transfer represents a potential bargain.
Also see: 22-goal Derby target set for free transfer move dominates club’s end-of-season awards
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