Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit backs Derby County to sign 22-year-old midfielder | OneFootball

Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie has urged Derby County to complete the signing of Kamil Conteh from Bristol Rovers.

Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie believes that Bristol Rovers midfielder Kamil Conteh would be a "good signing" for Championship outfit Derby County.

John Eustace's return to Pride Park proved to be pivotal in the club's battle against relegation to League One, as he steered the Rams away from the drop zone to give them a second season back in the Championship.

Now, Derby will gear up for another campaign in the second tier next season, as they look to build on their 19th place finish in 2024/25.

Football League World exclusively revealed that the Derbyshire side are battling with League One Plymouth Argyle to secure the signature of Bristol Rovers midfielder Conteh, who has just suffered relegation to League Two.

A highly-rated prospect with plenty of experience under his belt in both League One and League Two, the Rams are looking to add the 22-year-old to their midfield ranks ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Lee Hendrie urges Derby County to complete Kamil Conteh signing

Football League World exclusively quizzed former Aston Villa midfielder turned Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie on whether he thinks Derby should pursue the midfielder's signature.

"He's sort of got himself into a situation where he's played a couple of seasons, he's got experience of playing in League Two and League One. [Conteh is] 22 years of age, he's obviously getting more game time," Hendrie said.

"I think young, fresh blood who've been at [big] football clubs, he's been at Middlesbrough. Yes, there's obviously something they see.

"Whether he can make that step up. I've watched League One and League Two, there's a few players that really stand out in that league that have got that hunger and desire to go and take the next step again - maybe he's one of them.

"Obviously, they [Derby] look at players they can build up and work with. I think having that potential of working through the leagues and getting that physicality up, I think he'd be a good signing."

Conteh will have eyes on his next move after Bristol Rovers relegation

The Gas suffered a disappointing relegation to League Two at the end of the season, following a total capitualation that allowed Burton Albion to complete the great escape by overtaking Rovers and sending them down to the fourth tier.

It seems pretty clear that Conteh is too good to be playing League Two football, having already proven himself at that level, and will likely be looking to join a promotion-chasing League One club, or a lower mid-table Championship side.

Football League World understands that the Sierra Leone ace won't be short of potential suitors this summer, as Derby and Plymouth have already been named as contenders for his signature early doors.

Although Conteh played just 19 times for Bristol Rovers last term, it's unlikely he'll be willing to stick around in League Two with clubs higher up the pyramid sniffing around.

With that in mind, this summer seems like the right time for the midfielder to depart the Memorial Stadium and take the next step in his career.