Why John Eustace will face real Derby County headache if Callum Brittain signs on at Pride Park | OneFootball

John Eustace may be left with a tough decision to make

Derby County are reportedly keen on signing Blackburn Rovers full-back Callum Brittain.

John Eustace’s side have already acquired Andreas Weimann and Danny Batth from the East Lancashire outfit this summer.

Derby’s manager joined from Rovers in February, a decision that sent shockwaves throughout the division due to their contrasting fortunes at that moment in time.

Blackburn were challenging for the play-offs, whilst the Rams fought to remain in the Championship.

Eustace managed to keep Derby up and is now looking to make Brittain his next addition this summer.

Although the full-back is highly rated at this level, it could raise questions about where other members of the squad fit into the manager’s plans.

Callum Brittain arrival could see current Derby County defenders moved on

At this moment in time, the Rams already have sufficient depth at right-back, in the form of Ryan Nyambe and Kane Wilson.

The pair made 50 Championship appearances between them last term and seemed to provide exactly what the Rams needed in that area.

Wilson impressed when deployed in more attacking areas, giving Eustace the option to operate with wing-backs throughout the season, whilst Nyambe was an adequate back up throughout the campaign.

It’s reasonable to imagine Eustace wanting to upgrade throughout his team, but signing Brittain would likely require a significant transfer fee.

Therefore, coupled with the Blackburn full-back’s talent, it would be expected to see him join as the first-choice option in that department.

Wilson will no doubt feel he has proven himself capable of starting for a Championship side and wouldn’t be happy playing second fiddle to Brittain.

As a result, signing Brittain would ultimately show that Eustace is willing to let the 25-year-old leave Pride Park.

Some would argue this is harsh on Wilson, who was one of the Rams’ most consistent performers during their late-season push to secure their Championship status.

Even if Brittain doesn’t arrive, Eustace showing interest in the full-back shows that he isn’t completely satisfied with his current crop, which could lead to increased speculation over Wilson’s future throughout this summer.

Derby County could optimise their budget in other areas

Eustace moved to Pride Park with the promise that he’d be given more financial freedom in the transfer market than at Blackburn and that has proven true so far.

The Rams have agreed to sign Charlotte FC striker Patrick Agyemang for £5 million, highlighting their intent to back Eustace and Co. this summer.

Signing Brittain would require Derby to spend another chunk of money on a transfer fee, with the full-back still having one year remaining on his deal at Ewood Park and Rovers not looking to sell.

With Wilson already a solid option at right-back, Eustace could be better off resisting a move for his former defender and using those funds to strengthen other areas of the squad.

The Rams often lacked a creative spark in midfield during periods of last season, so they could invest in a playmaker who can provide new striker Carlton Morris with plenty of opportunities to tuck away next term.