Sources: Derby County open to signing 29-year-old amid imminent Ipswich Town decision | OneFootball

Could Marcus Harness be returning to Pride Park on a permanent basis?

Derby County are considering a permanent swoop for Ipswich Town attacking midfielder Marcus Harness this summer, sources have exclusively informed Football League World.

The Rams secured their Championship survival on the final day of the 2024-25 season, with manager John Eustace masterminding the success a few months after being headhunted from Blackburn Rovers, replacing Paul Warne in the Pride Park dugout.

Work is now set to begin on bolstering Eustace's squad ahead of the next campaign, and he's looking to bring a familiar face back into his ranks.

Derby County "open" to Marcus Harness returning on a full-time basis

FLW has been told by its sources that Eustace is keen on re-uniting with Marcus Harness, who spent the most recent campaign on loan at County - but this time he's wanted on a permanent deal.

The 29-year-old was let go of by Ipswich Town for the season following their promotion to the Premier League, with the Coventry-born attacker deemed surplus to requirements by head coach Kieran McKenna.

Harness managed to get regular game-time though at Derby, particularly in the back end of the season when Eustace arrived to take over from Warne, and now the Rams head coach would like the ex-Portsmouth man to sign a contract.

The Ipswich contract of Harness is due to expire at the end of June, and when the Tractor Boys announce their retained list following the conclusion of the Premier League season, the creative midfielder/winger will be released, allowing him to sign for another club for no transfer fee.

How did Marcus Harness fare for Derby County in 2024-25?

Prior to joining Derby on deadline day of the summer transfer window, Harness had played a supporting role in Ipswich's promotion-winning campaign in 2023-24, appearing 34 times in the Championship but only starting seven times under McKenna.

He then joined the Rams in August 2024, and under previous manager Warne, he was in and out of the starting 11, with 13 of his 25 league outings up until the ex-Rotherham United boss' departure being from the beginning of matches.