What Dion Sanderson has said about John Eustace as Derby County plot Birmingham City raid | OneFootball

FLW looks at Dion Sanderson's previous comments on John Eustace amid reports that the Derby County boss is trying to bring the defender to Pride Park

Derby County manager John Eustace is reportedly eager to strike yet another reunion with Dion Sanderson this summer after working with the defender at QPR, Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers.

Sanderson, who spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Birmingham under Eustace before being brought back to the Second City on a permanent basis, made 47 appearances during the now-Derby boss' reign in charge.

Having been out of favour at Birmingham following the club's spending spree last summer, which preceded their record-breaking, title-winning campaign in League One, Sanderson linked up with Eustace once again back in January by joining Blackburn on loan.

Sanderson managed four appearances under Eustace before he left the following month in a controversial switch to Championship rivals Derby, where he is now looking to sign the 25-year-old for a third time.

According to a recent report from The Sun's Alan Nixon - via his exclusive Patreon service - Derby are interested in a summer deal for Sanderson, who is said to be available for as little as £1 million ahead of a likely departure from St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

Eustace is clearly a huge fan of Sanderson and, as we know from the ex-Wolves and Sunderland man's comments after reuniting with him at Blackburn earlier this year, that feeling is mutual.

But what exactly did Sanderson say about Eustace? Football League World takes a look...

What Dion Sanderson said about John Eustace after signing for Blackburn Rovers on loan

After signing for Blackburn on loan in January, Sanderson revealed how the presence of Eustace was a big pulling factor in his decision to move to Ewood Park.

Sanderson admitted that he "got on really well" with Eustace down at QPR, where he was the assistant manager during the defender's loan spell with the club in 2021/22, before speaking glowingly about their time together with Birmingham.

He explained to Blackburn's official website after signing: "I heard of the interest yesterday and the gaffer and the staff are people I’ve obviously worked for in the past.

"We’ve had many great memories together.

"I had him at QPR when he was the assistant and I got on really well with him. He went to Birmingham City as manager and ended up giving me a ring.

"He asked if I wanted to play football and I said: 'Sure, I want that'. Every game I played under him was great and I have nothing but good memories from playing for him.

"He’s a great manager to play under, his staff are class and there’s a real desire and hunger from him for the supporters and the club, which I’ve seen that he has here as well.

"He gives me the confidence and he’s a manager that I want to play under and work with.

"I know how he wants to play, what he wants and the standards that he sets."

John Eustace factor will give Derby County a huge advantage amid transfer interest in Birmingham City's Dion Sanderson

Sanderson is a capable and established performer at Championship level, which means that, in any instance, he represents the profile that Derby would perhaps be looking to bring to Pride Park this summer.

But the relationship between him and Eustace is integral, and it's absolutely no surprise that the 45-year-old has set his sights on yet another reunion. Sanderson has played arguably the best football of his career under the Rams boss, who knows all about the defender and how to get the best out of him.

There's clearly a reason why Eustace has signed him on two separate occasions - they're both huge admirers of each other and it's a sensible move which ticks all the boxes and, you would imagine, should be completed in the coming weeks if Derby and Birmingham can successfully thrash out a deal.