Exclusive: Derby County star Kane Wilson in talks to join Paul Warne's MK Dons | OneFootball

Wilson could be set to reunite with Paul Warne at Stadium:MK

Derby County defender Kane Wilson is in talks with League Two outfit MK Dons over a permanent move to Stadium:MK, Football League World can exclusively reveal.

The Dons have invested heavily in what is Paul Warne's first full season in charge of the club, not holding back from their aim of making a return to League One for the first time since 2023.

Such a theme is set to continue in the latter stages of the summer window too. With Monday night's 7PM transfer deadline edging ever closer, the vastly-experienced head coach is set to reunite with another of his former Pride Park colleagues, as MK look to build on their unbeaten start to the season.

They currently sit third after five League Two encounters, winning three and drawing two of those, with a goal difference of plus eight also highlighting the quality which runs through all departments.

Kane Wilson in talks with MK Dons over permanent Derby County transfer

Wilson has been on the East Midlands club's books since the summer of 2023, joining the Rams from Bristol City on a two-year contract after finding regular gametime hard to come by at Ashton Gate.

The West Bromwich Albion academy graduate gained a reputation as a constantly forward-thinking full-back from his days at Forest Green Rovers, where he also won the fourth-tier title under now-Middlesbrough boss, Rob Edwards in the 2021/22 campaign.

So far at Pride Park, Wilson has made 85 appearances for Derby, scoring five times and accumulating a further seven assists. The vast majority of those came under Warne's management as the 52-year-old returned the club to the Championship, but was relieved of his duties in February after a dismal run of form, subsequently being replaced by current boss, John Eustace.

The former Rotherham United boss has seen nine new faces come to Stadium:MK this summer, with one of those being the audacious capture of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing from his former club. Another raid in that regard is set to take place, as FLW understands Wilson is in talks with the League Two promotion favourites over a permanent deal before the window closes.

The Birmingham-born man is currently one of several players out-of-contract at Derby heading into next summer after the club exercised a one-year extension in his deal in May after the club preserved its Championship status. Yet he could, very quickly, be heading for the exit door.

Derby County, MK Dons and Kane Wilson would all benefit from this transfer agreement

Wilson's gametime under Eustace has already been severely impacted in the early weeks of the current campaign, with the former Blackburn Rovers boss utilising his services for the first time this season in Tuesday's EFL Cup exit at the hands of Burnley after he recovered from off-season knee surgery.

Regardless, the right side of defence is also an area in which the Derby boss has overseen changes this summer, with the Rams fending off strong competition to secure the services of Max Johnston from Sturm Graz in a deal that could be worth up to £3.5m.

The highly-rated Scotland international's arrival will provide strong competition for Ryan Nyambe and, in turn, push Wilson further down the pecking order, meaning a chance to cash in with less than 12 months on his contract will be viewed as a smart move.

At present, the recently-recruited Gethin Jones is also the Dons' only experienced right-back after joining from Bolton Wanderers, with 19-year-old, Phoenix Scholtz, providing cover for now.