How Derby County feel about potentially selling Ebou Adams | OneFootball

A number of the Rams' league rivals are interested in the Gambian midfielder.

Derby County have no plans to sell Ebou Adams this summer following reports of Championship interest in the midfielder.

Adams' breakout season in the second-tier, despite Derby only narrowly avoiding relegation, was always likely to attract interest. According to Pete O'Rourke, "several" of the Rams' league rivals, including one of the clubs that have just been relegated from the Premier League, have taken a liking to the 29-year-old.

Derby only bought the midfielder last summer from Cardiff City after he helped them to win automatic promotion back to the Championship. They paid a reported £500,000 for him.

Derby County's Ebou Adams transfer plans revealed

The Gambian international started 42 of the 46 matches that County played in the league last term. His importance to the side was cemented when manager John Eustace handed him the captain's armband. Unsurprisingly, then, Derby have no intention of bending to the will of those around them by selling Adams this summer, as per Dominic Dietrich.

County are in a decent position to fend off any bids for the midfielder. He still has another two years left on his deal with the club, giving his potential suitors less leverage to work with in any negotiations.

Adams and Eustace clearly have a lot of admiration for one another. The 45-year-old said that the former Cardiff player was a "natural fit" to lead the dressing room when he made the decision to make him the skipper in March.

Derby's narrow escape from relegation was largely down to the boss being able to turn a sinking ship into a stable one, a fact that the captain acknowledged at the end of the campaign. "When we were seven points adrift, it did look scary," said Adams to BBC Derby Sport.

"I give credit to the fans for sticking with us. The gaffer has come and done an amazing job, the boys have stuck by him. I’m thankful for everyone for not giving up. It seems like a miracle what we’ve done."

Derby County should do all they can to hold onto Ebou Adams

Adams' contribution to last season's Derby side wasn't just spearheaded by leadership and words of wisdom - he led by example on the pitch. The 29-year-old was their second top scorer with six goals, and he put in just as much work on the defensive side of the ball too.

His importance to the club has only grown since making his initial loan move to Pride Park back in January 2024, and it would surely have to take a seriously substantial amount of money to even make the Rams consider letting go of one of their best players.