Derby County manager Phillip Cocu has told BBC Radio Derby how Jordon Ibe is a player with a lot of potential, however he can’t confirm a deal is imminent.
The Rams are looking to strengthen their forward options.
Kamil Jozwiak arrived from Lech Poznan on Wednesday, and Derby are still hoping to bring in one or two more before the end of the current transfer window.
According to Football Insider, free-agent Ibe is poised to sign for the Pride Park club.
But despite talking up his quality and potential, Cocu remains coy on the subject.
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He’s a player with a lot of potential. He’s well known here. Everybody with quality who could bring us something more in the team is an option. I can’t say of it’s close or it’s likely there will be a deal. We work on strengthening the team, and until there’s nothing to confirm, then I won’t do it.
Ibe, 24, is without a club after leaving Bournemouth following his contract expiry.
The talented winger cost the Cherries some £15 million back in 2016. But Ibe struggled to make an impact at Dean Court and replicate his excellent form at Derby.
Ibe spent the first part of the 2014-15 campaign on loan at the Rams. He showed pace, dribbling ability and importantly an end product during his time at Pride Park.
Derby have desperately missed those very same attributes so far this season.
Phillip Cocu’s side started the campaign with a 2-0 home defeat to Reading, before crashing out of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Preston North End.
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