Derby County need an upgrade on Nathaniel Mendez-Laing - These 3 wingers would be perfect for John Eustace | OneFootball

With Mo Bobat’s data-driven Sporting Intelligence team now shaping recruitment, here are three wingers who could elevate Eustace’s system

Derby County’s resurgence under John Eustace has been built on tactical discipline and incremental progress, but as the Rams aim to achieve bigger things next season, the need for upgraded attacking outlets has become very clear.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, while a loyal servant, has shown inconsistencies in both his end product and overall performance this season that could hinder Derby’s aspirations moving forward.

The experienced winger was a huge hit in the Rams' two seasons in League One, returning a total of 18 goals and 29 assists from 101 appearances during that time. He has, however, struggled to match similar heights at Championship level this term and slipped down Eustace's pecking order towards the back-end of the campaign, having contributed just three goals and four assists.

With Mo Bobat’s data-driven Sporting Intelligence team now shaping recruitment, here are three wingers who could elevate Eustace’s system while aligning with the club’s evolving transfer philosophy.

Livan Burcu

As per Bild, Derby County’s scouting presence at 1. FC Magdeburg 4-1 win against Darmstadt, potentially means they could zero in on Livan Burcu, a 20-year-old winger whose blend of technical flair and tactical maturity makes him an ideal candidate for Championship football.

On loan from Union Berlin, Burcu has registered three goals and seven assists in 31 appearances for Magdeburg this season, but his value extends beyond raw statistics. Standing at 5ft 8, the German-Turkish dynamo excels in one-on-one situations, completing 59 successful dribbles this campaign. His ability to hug the touchline and deliver incisive crosses (1.3 key passes per 90 minutes) addresses Derby's reliance on predictable build-up when they play through central areas.

Burcu is a product of Eintracht Frankfurt’s academy, and honed his skills in Turkey with Beşiktaş before returning to Germany, showcasing adaptability that would serve him well in England’s physically demanding second tier. At 20, his ceiling aligns with Derby’s long-term vision, but his €4m estimated market value is perhaps not a fiscally prudent investment for a club that is waiting for investment. Crucially, Burcu’s defensive work rate - 2.1 tackles per 90 minutes in the 2. Bundesliga, matches Eustace’s demand for two-way wingers who can transition rapidly from press to counterattack.

Tyrhys Dolan

In Tyrhys Dolan, Derby could secure a proven Championship operator with existing chemistry in Eustace’s system. The 23-year-old Blackburn Rovers forward, set to become a free agent this summer, was instrumental in Rovers’ playoff push, contributing seven goals and six assists across 47 appearances. Dolan’s 3,267 minutes played rank him among the division’s most durable wide players, a critical attribute given Mendez-Laing’s intermittent fitness concerns.

What makes Dolan particularly intriguing is his familiarity with Eustace’s methodology. During their time together at Blackburn, the winger thrived in a high-pressing 4-2-3-1. His positional versatility, comfortable on either flank or as a second striker, would give Derby tactical flexibility absent in Mendez-Laing’s more rigid profile. Off-field factors also loom large, with Dolan’s public admiration for Eustace (“It hurts to see him criticised”) suggesting a player-coach rapport that could accelerate his integration at Pride Park.

Financially, Dolan represents a low-risk, high-reward proposition. Without a transfer fee, Derby could structure performance-based incentives, preserving resources for other targets.

Marius Broholm

Marius Broholm is a 20-year-old Norwegian winger and attacking midfielder making waves at Rosenborg. After a standout loan at Kristiansund, Broholm has returned to Rosenborg and continued his upward trajectory, scoring 8 league goals in 29 appearances in 2024 and already netting 3 in his first 6 matches of 2025. His career stats show a consistent knack for goals and assists from wide and central attacking roles, with 26 goals in 85 senior appearances.

Broholm is left-footed, creative, and comfortable both as a winger and in central areas, offering Eustace the tactical flexibility to play him out wide or as an advanced midfielder. With Derby already recruiting from both Norway and Sweden, Broholm would benefit from a familiar environment and could help add to the Scandinavian core at the club.

Broholm’s combination of youth and end product makes him an ideal fit for Derby’s new data-driven recruitment strategy, and it's hard to argue against him being an upgrade on the current wide options.

By targeting Burcu, Dolan, and Broholm, Derby can upgrade their wide options with players who combine athleticism with tactical intelligence, which is exactly what John Eustace needs to push the Rams up the Championship table.