Derby County plotting transfer reunion with Sunderland winger Patrick Roberts on permanent deal | OneFootball

Sunderland winger Patrick Roberts could be linked with a move to Derby County

Derby County are plotting an ambitious raid of Premier League newcomers Sunderland for winger Patrick Roberts.

The Black Cats' promotion back to the Premier League after an eight-year absence has led manager Regis Le Bris to be a busy man in this summer's transfer window.

Sunderland completed some shrewd business early on this window in preparation to make the step-up to the top-flight by bringing in the likes of ex-Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, Premier League proven Simon Adingra from Brighton, and the tricky winger Chemsdine Talbi from Club Brugge, to name a few.

It's no surprise that Sunderland's active nature in the transfer window, backed up by heavy spending, is Le Bris' statement of intent to keep them in the Premier League, and The Black Cats have made an impressive introduction with two wins from three.

However, with plenty of newcomers through the door, well-established players for the Mackems such as Roberts have faced uncertainty about their future at the club and whether minutes in the Premier League will be few and far between.

The winger has been on the radar of several Championship clubs this summer, with Derby County showing the most keen interest.

Derby County are interested in permanent Patrick Roberts deal

It's been reported by journalist, Alan Nixon, that Derby County are showing a heavy interest in signing Sunderland winger Patrick Roberts.

Despite earning promotion with the Black Cats, Roberts' game time has been sparse, with the 28-year-old merely coming on for the last half an hour against Burnley and otherwise has been an unused substitute.

With a player of his quality sitting on the bench, this has drawn interest from the Championship, and especially from Derby County, who missed out on previous target Koki Saito, who returned to QPR on a permanent basis.

Nixon has reported that the Rams are looking to strike a deal with Sunderland and would offer Roberts a three-year contract if the Mackems will sell him at the right price.

Derby boss John Eustace has made it clear throughout the summer that bringing in attacking reinforcements is a priority, even more so now with injuries being prevalent in the opening stages of the season with Corey Blackett-Taylor sidelined for some time.

Patrick Roberts could be just the maverick player that John Eustace needs at Derby County

Roberts has proven Championship know-how, and alongside his ability to link-up attacks, this could be an exciting prospect coming to Pride Park.

Despite getting off to a slow start this season, there have been clear signs of promise in the forward areas, with their new star man Carlton Morris currently firing on all cylinders. Add Roberts to the mix and this could prove to be a dangerous front-line for defences to deal with.

Roberts scored two goals and provided eight assists in Sunderland's promotion campaign, and with Eustace crying out for a creative wideman who can get crosses into the box as well as play intricate balls between the lines, could mean that he is just the player that Derby need in their ranks.

The 28-year-old had a one-season loan spell with the Rams back in 2020/21 and will sure be welcomed back by the Pride Park faithful if he were to make the move down south. Roberts that season made 15 league appearances where he scored one goal and got one assist.

He would quickly become a part of the fixtures and fittings in the Midlands due to his wealth of experience and would play a key role in carrying the Rams up the table as they look to get their season on track.