Derby County hold one key advantage over Birmingham and QPR in Koki Saito race | OneFootball

Koki Saito has been subject to transfer speculation with Derby County holding advantage over Birmingham and QPR in the race

Derby County hold one key advantage over Birmingham and QPR in the race to sign ex- Japanese youth international Koki Saito.

Saito has been subject to plenty of transfer speculation this summer, with it being reported by journalist Mike McGrath that Derby County, Birmingham City, and QPR, where he spent last season on loan, are all among the list interested in signing the 24-year-old for a fee up to £5 million.

Saito has had Championship experience, spending last season on loan with the Hoops where he made 39 league appearances, finding the net three times and providing two assists.

The Japanese wide-man is currently contracted to Belgian side Lommel SK until the summer of 2027, but there is a decision to be made as Saito could be swayed away with a move back to the English second tier, this time on a permanent deal.

Derby hold key advantage over Birmingham, QPR in race for Koki Saito

Derby County have done some shrewd business this summer under boss John Eustace after a relegation scare last season that kept the Rams up by one point on the final day of the season.

Having added the likes of Carlton Morris, Rhian Brewster, and Patrick Agyemang to their attacking armory, Eustace has shown a clear sign of intent that the forward line is the area he wants to strengthen most with the transfer windows' closure ticking down.

Add Saito to this list, and Derby could well be a force to be reckoned with. Mixing the tricky nature and creativity of the Japanese man with the brute strength of Morris, could spell problems for opposition defences.

With Birmingham and QPR, another two clubs that have been very active in the window, competition for places could be a worry for Saito.

Summer signings for the two clubs include talented names for both sides, with Birmingham City snapping up Demarai Gray and Kyogo Furuhashi to name a couple. QPR, meanwhile, have sought to the likes of Kwame Poku, and Richard Kone to bolster their lineup.

With there being plenty of competition for places at Birmingham and QPR, Pride Park may just be Saito's best option, as he would add to an already strong forward line at Derby, and give Eustace a healthy problem of having more options in attack.

Indeed, Derby currently have a crisis in the wide areas following a fresh injury to Corey Blackett Taylor, who remains the Rams' only senior, natural winger after Kayden Jackson.

The former Ipswich Town man has, however, often flattered to deceive in the East Midlands and a move for Saito would be of real benefit to Derby.

It could offer the best chance for the talented winger to play regularly, too, with opportunities sure to prove harder to come by with Birmingham and QPR.

Derby could be the right step in Koki Saito's career

After being a staple in former QPR boss Marti Cifuentes' side last season, Saito's exciting style of play he brought to the Championship last season has unsurprisingly made the Japanese man a prime target this summer, with his £5m price tag seeming like a steal for any club.

With Derby looking to bounce back from their disappointing campaign last time out, the injection of Saito's creativity into Eustace's squad could well be the difference in propelling the Rams back up the Championship table.

Less competition for places, a fresh look to the forward line, and the prospect of being a fan favourite in Derbyshire, would make Saito's potential move to Derby County an assured bit of business that all fans at Pride Park could look forward to.