According to the Daily Mail, Derby County are keen to sign Stoke City’s Lee Gregory.
The 31-year-old striker only joined Stoke last summer from Millwall, choosing the Potters over the Rams and Sheffield United (Daily Mail; May 16; Page 56).
But he has struggled to make an impact at the bet365 Stadium.
Gregory managed just six Championship goals this past season. It was the first time since 2014-15 where he failed to rack up double figures for goals.
(Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images).
Stoke are going through changes this summer under new manager Michael O’Neill.
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And the Daily Mail claims Gregory, who has just one year remaining on his deal, could leave following Stoke’s signing of fellow forward Steven Fletcher.
Derby and Huddersfield Town are both named as suitors.
It is ironic Derby would be in for him again after missing out last summer. However, his style of play is arguably the ideal type the Rams are currently missing upfront.
Manager Phillip Cocu enjoyed great success at PSV Eindhoven, winning three league titles in four years. There, he had Luuk de Jong spearheading the side.
At Derby, the Dutchman hasn’t had a similar type of striker to work with.
Chris Martin, while possessing a silky, deft first touch, lacked physicality, height and speed. The former Norwich City man has since left Derby after his contract expiry.
Jack Marriott and Martyn Waghorn remain as Derby’s two striker options, with the former struggling with fitness while the latter’s own contract expires in the summer of 2021.
The Rams may see Gregory as an ideal option for this season. However, at 31, the former Millwall man can’t be considered a long-term solution at Pride Park.
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