"A James Collins upgrade" - Derby County must renew transfer interest in 28-goal striker | OneFootball

Derby County are preparing for life back in the Championship after they secured automatic promotion thanks to a final day win over Carlisle on Saturday.

Derby County’s summer transfer plans

Paul Warne has built an experienced squad at Pride Park, with many in the group knowing what’s needed to be successful in the second tier.

Therefore, pleasingly for the Rams, they aren’t in a position where they need to make wholesale changes, as it will instead be about adding quality here and there.

Nevertheless, there are a few glaring issues in the squad, and most would agree that they need to add more goals to the team.

Derby County had a previous interest in Macaulay Langstaff

One player who could do just that is Macaulay Langstaff, with the Notts County striker having enjoyed another remarkable season with the Magpies, and it's been claimed that he is someone Derby were tracking in the January window.

Having scored 42 goals to help the club back to the Football League, the 27-year-old followed that by finding the net 28 times in the fourth tier.

Obviously, the jump to the Championship is a significant one, and there would be doubts about Langstaff’s ability to handle that.

But, is he a player that Derby should target following promotion? Here our writers share their thoughts...

Chris Gallagher

It’s a no-brainer. This would be excellent business for Derby.

There are obvious concerns about Langstaff, and some critics will rightly point out that his goals have come in the National League and League Two. However, those who have seen him play will see that he has great instincts in and around the box, and he shows real composure when chances come his way.

Warne needs to be in the market for at least two strikers this summer, as scoring goals could be an issue for Derby back in the Championship.

We know that the Rams aren’t going to be able to splash huge sums of money this summer - and nor should they. Instead, they will search for potential bargains, and look to give players from the lower levels a chance.

At 27, Langstaff is a player ready to make an impact immediately, so he fits the profile of what Derby should be looking for, and he would surely relish the chance to make the move to Pride Park. So, it’s a potential deal that makes sense for both the club and the player.

Ben Wignall

One thing is for certain is that Derby need at least one new striker this summer, with their options at that end of the pitch all on the wrong side of 30.

Paul Warne went back to his trusted wing-back system for the majority of the final two months of the season, and it saw Nathaniel Mendez-Laing converted into a striker - Derby's star man isn't as effective through the middle though and with the only other option currently contracted to the club next season being Conor Washington, reinforcements are needed.

That is where Langstaff comes back into the picture - the man is a prolific goalscorer and has showed that for three seasons now with Gateshead and Notts County, and he appears to be the kind of late developer that you'd back to keep on scoring the further he moves up the leagues.

What Langstaff clearly needs though as a penalty box predator is the service, and he should get that from the likes of Mendez-Laing, Kane Wilson and Louie Sibley from wide positions.

It might take a fee in excess of £1 million to take Langstaff away from Notts County, but it would be a worthwhile investment for David Clowes, and despite the fact he netted 14 times in League One this past season, Langstaff would represent a James Collins upgrade.