John Eustace can fix key Derby County issue by beating Blackburn Rovers & Leicester City to signing | OneFootball

The Rams need to replace the injured Corey Blackett-Taylor as soon as possible

Derby County manager John Eustace could solve his side's most urgent problem by securing the signing of St. Pauli winger Dapo Afolayan ahead of four Championship rivals.

The Rams, having been desperately short of wide options for some time, now find themselves without Corey Blackett-Taylor after he was ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring injury against Stoke City.

Blackett-Taylor scored five goals in pre-season - one in each match - and provided the assist for Carlton Morris' goal on opening day before he pulled up.

Kayden Jackson is the only other natural winger at the club, and it's fair to say he's been in uninspiring form ever since he scored three goals in his first five games at the start of last season after joining from Ipswich Town.

Dapo Afolayan would be ideal for Derby County

At 27 years old, Afolayan brings the ideal combination of what Derby are crying out for on the wing - experience and quality.

Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City, West Brom and Swansea City have all reportedly registered interest in the winger, according to Hayters TV.

The St. Pauli winger started 17 times in the Bundesliga last season, and found the back of the net three times and got one assist.

Whilst his 24/25 output could be seen as average, it's worth noting that during St. Pauli's promotion season from the second-tier, Afolayan scored ten goals whilst getting three assists.

Having just one year remaining on his current deal, his contract situation in Germany works in Derby's favour. The Bundesliga club are reportedly willing to let him go if suitable offers come in, but they'd risk losing him for nothing in a years time if they don't.

Derby are in a similar sort of position in their bid to sign Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis, who also has one year left on his contract and is keen on a reunion with Eustace at Pride Park. The Lancashire outfit rejected the Rams' initial offer of £1.5m.

John Eustace needs wingers for his preferred style of football at Derby County

John Eustace mentioned at Derby's Fan Forum in June that he'd "love to play a back four, some exciting wingers and two good strikers." It's no secret that his favoured system is 4-2-3-1, and he set his squad up that way a lot at Blackburn.

Shortly after making the switch to the East Midlands though, Eustace adapted to a 3-5-2. This obviously helped Derby stay up, but it's not the head coach's ideal way of playing.

Derby scored more goals from set-pieces (22) than any other Championship team last season - they got their first in 25/26, albeit the Cup, via a 96th-minute Joe Ward free-kick on Tuesday.

Afolayan averaged 2.31 fouls won per game in 24/25, meaning he can definitely help Derby win more free-kicks.

Andreas Weimann, Rhian Brewster and Bobby Clarke are three players capable of playing on the wing - but all are more suited to central roles. Currently, Eustace would have to play at least one of these out of position to pair with Jackson.

Derby County need to act quickly to sign Corey Blackett-Taylor

With four Championship sides all apparently expressing interest in Afolayan, Derby would obviously face big competition for his signature, but the Rams can't really afford to be without decent wingers for too long.

After Blackett-Taylor's injury was confirmed, supporters took to social media to express their confusion at Derby not signing some wingers already.

Allowing Afolayan to join a league rival could prove costly, who would offer a more consistent threat than Blackett-Taylor even if the latter wasn't injured. Unlike Blackett-Taylor, Afolayan has managed 30-plus league games in each of his last three seasons.

For Eustace, beating his former club Blackburn - and East Midlands 'rivals' Leicester - to Afolayan's signature, would certainly be another statement signing for Derby this summer.

It remains to be seen just how many wingers Derby might be looking to bring in before the end of the summer window, but Eustace will know he needs a couple of Afolayan's calibre to play his preferred style of football this season.