"Really promising" - Crystal Palace praised as Derby County set to pip Luton & Cardiff to transfer | OneFootball

David Ozoh is wanted by a trio of Championship sides this summer, with the Rams said to be in pole position

Derby County are said to be in pole position to secure the signing of Crystal Palace youngster David Ozoh this summer, with Cardiff City, Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle set to miss out.

The dynamic midfielder has been tracked by all four Championship sides, but in the latest update, it is the Rams who look to be closest to making the teenager theirs in the coming weeks, with Darren Witcoop claiming that Paul Warne's side are now 'expected' to land the teenager's services.

The 19-year-old featured nine times for the Eagles in the Premier League during the most recent campaign, with an impressive performance against Champions Manchester City the pick of the bunch from his cameos.

The young talent also became the club’s youngest ever player in the top flight last year, as he came on as a late substitute in a clash with Newcastle United, at just 17 years of age.

Crystal Palace hailed from Derby County perspective amid David Ozoh deal

With the quality that Palace possess in their midfield ranks, the top flight side seem happy to let Ozoh depart the club for the season ahead, with County hoping to secure a season-long loan for the star.

That will have played into their hands compared to Luton, who wanted to sign the midfielder on a permanent deal, following their relegation back into the Football League, while Wayne Rooney’s Argyle side were also after a temporary switch.

With his quality clear for all to see during the glimpses we saw of him at Selhurst Park last season, Football League World’s Derby County fan pundit Shaun Woodward is hoping his side get the deal over the line this summer.

The Rams fan told FLW: “The fact that some teams who are after him were in the Premier League last season, if we are in pole position then that’s really promising.

“Palace don’t normally produce many duds either; their academy is amazing, and it’s one of the best in the country, so I think he could be a really exciting signing for us.

“The fact that he played nine games in the Premier League, and the youngest ever Palace player to make his Premier League debut, I’d be really excited to get him in, I think he’d be an excellent signing for us."

Derby County still need to make midfield additions ahead of Championship return

Paul Warne has been busy in the transfer window to add to County’s ranks ahead of their Championship return, with the former Rotherham United man adding plenty of personnel already this summer.

Ebou Adams is also another returning face, with the former Cardiff City loanee making the move from the Welsh side permanent, while Kenzo Goudmijn has joined from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.

With the likes of Louie Sibley, Conor Hourihane and Korey Smith all departing this summer, Woodward thinks his side still need reinforcements in the middle of the park before the season begins, with Ozoh the perfect player to fill the gaps in the County lineup.

Shaun continued: “I still think we’re one, possibly two short in the midfield area.

“Kenzo, I don’t really know how he’s going to settle, hopefully he’ll be quality, but like a lot of foreign players we’ve brought in it’s the unknown.

“The Championship is not an easy league at all, and we’ve not got the best track record of bringing foreign players in and excelling, especially not of late.

“Hopefully he will be quality for us, we’ve got Adams back which is brilliant, Osborn, you know what you’re getting with him.

“But other than those three, we’ve only really got [Liam] Thompson, and that’s about it really, so I do think we’re a couple short in there, if I’m totally honest.

“Especially over the course of a Championship season, it’s a long season and you’re going to get injuries and suspensions, so I’d say we’re one or two short.”