According to Sport Buzzer, Hannover 96 are eyeing a deal for reported Derby County summer target Serdar Dursun in the upcoming January transfer window.
The Darmstadt striker has caught the eye after a 19-goal campaign last term
His contract at Darmstadt expires in the summer of 2021, leaving the German second division side vulnerable to losing him on a free transfer at the end of the current season.
Derby reportedly tried to sign him in a bargain deal before the window shut last month.
According to BILD, the Rams offered £900,000 to sign the 29-year-old. However, Darmstadt couldn’t find a replacement in time and rejected Derby’s proposal.
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Now, the latest reports claims Derby have strong competition for his signature.
Hannover 96 are one of the biggest clubs outside Germany’s top-flight. They are keen to return to the Bundesliga next season and will look to strengthen in January.
Sport Buzzer say the club’s sporting director is ready to make funds available for a new striker, and both Dursun and Karlsruhe’s Phillip Hofmann top the club’s wish-list.
Missing out on Dursun in the summer has already proven to be problematic for Derby.
The Rams saw Chris Martin leave at the end of his contract and Jack Marriott joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan on deadline day, leaving Cocu short on striker options.
Derby are bottom of the Championship, having only scored five goals in 11 games.
Cocu enjoyed plenty of success at PSV Eindhoven with Luuk de Jong upfront. A target man is critical to how Cocu wants his team to play, but Derby’s Martyn Waghorn just doesn’t fit the profile while the ageing Wayne Rooney has seen his influence at Pride Park wane.
The failure to sign 6ft 3inch Dursun may unfortunately cost Cocu his job.
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