Stoke City player decision should be capitalised on by Derby County: View | OneFootball

After 31 goals and 16 assists in 142 Championship appearances, Tyrese Campbell's time at Stoke City has come to an end and Paul Warne should be looking at bringing the 24-year-old to Derby County on a free this summer.

Campbell joined the Potters in 2016 from Manchester City for a fee of £1.75 million, firstly playing for the club's under 18s and under 23s before progressing to the first team after Stoke's relegation to the second tier at the end of the 2017/18 season.

Since then, Campbell has become a fan favourite at the Bet365 Stadium as the club unsuccessfully tried to get back to the Premier League.

However, it was confirmed that Stoke's 4-0 home victory against Bristol City on the last day of the season would be his final game in red and white, as he left Staffordshire with a goal.

Derby's need for youth up front

Warne and Derby should be one of many taking an interest in Campbell, with the Rams looking to hit the ground running following promotion from League One.

Pride Park Stadium will be hosting Championship football for the first time since the 2021/22 campaign next season, and a player with vast experience at such a young age will be a great target for Derby.

The Rams had their issues with injuries on their way to promotion, with all five of their strikers finding themselves sidelined at the same time in March.

With Tyreece John-Jules' loan coming to an end and James Collins, Martyn Waghorn and Dwight Gayle still without deals for the new season - Warne is in need of strikers to help his team fight in the Championship. At just 24, Campbell has time on his side to make his name in DE24.

Campbell needs to improve numbers

After a fantastic start in Stoke's youth sides, the forward would fail to have the same impact in front of goal for the senior squad. He was sent on loan to Shrewsbury Town for the remainder of the 2018/19 season, scoring five goals in 15 games.

The son of former Arsenal and Everton striker, Kevin Campbell, he returned to the Potters and had his best scoring season with nine goals in 33 appearances as Stoke finished 15th.

The forward has struggled to hold down one position in recent years, and an inconsistency in goal scoring has been a key reason for that, but a fresh start under new management could be the key to a new success.

Derby ended the season in a 5-3-2 formation, and the opportunity of playing alongside another striker or Nathaniel Mendez-Laing could tempt the former England U20 international to stay in the East Midlands. With the promise of more game time giving him the chance at scoring more and assisting more, after just four goal involvments in 23 matches in 2023/24 - with two of those goals coming in his final two matches.

It is a move that could benefit both player and club, with Campbell knowing the Championship inside and out after a prolonged stay at Stoke.

Warne was able to get the most out of James Collins last season after a hit-and-miss first year at Derby, giving Campbell the knowledge that he'd be in safe hands at Pride Park.