Derby County should try to sign Liverpool player again after recent developments: View | OneFootball

After Derby County's retained list was released last Saturday, their midfield options are looking very light ahead of the 2024/25 Championship season and the Rams should go back in for Liverpool's Bobby Clark to help with the rebuild.

Paul Warne had previously offered to take on the services of Clark last season. However, Jürgen Klopp decided to keep the young midfielder at Liverpool to enhance his development there.

Despite this, Clark featured in just five Premier League fixtures during the 2023/24 campaign, as well as a handful of cup matches, spending the majority of the year in the U21s.

Derby have also been linked with Barnsley's Herbie Kane, with Darren Robinson, Tyrese Fornah and Liam Thompson the only three midfielders still contracted to the Rams. It is also understood that the club are looking at making the loan signing of Cardiff City'sEbou Adams permanent as they aim for survival in 2024/25.

Bobby Clark is one of Liverpool's most exciting prospects

At just 19 years old, Clark is one of the most exciting players in Liverpool's development sides. He joined from Newcastle United in August 2021 for a fee of £1.5 million, signing his first professional contract with the Reds a year later.

In his first season in the north-west, the son of former Newcastle and Fulham star Lee Clark helped the Reds into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Youth League. He also scored 13 goals in 23 U18 Premier League North games, as well as picking up five assists as his side finished 2nd in their half of the table.

An energetic, high-pressing player, Clark impressed against Sparta Prague in the UEFA Europa League back in March, scoring the second in a 6-1 romp over the Czech champions at Anfield.

This performance was extremely pleasing for Klopp, who had decided to keep Clark as part of his plans for the rest of the season after a major injury crisis in Liverpool's midfield. The German coach said: "That was a top performance of Bobby. A real performance.

"A goal, yes. But he set up whichever goal by winning the ball back up high, really high pressing situation – top, top, top. And then controlling a football game, with all the excitement inside that he definitely still has, is fantastic."

Clark's season ended early after he picked up a back injury, but it is expected that he will be fully fit before pre-season starts.

Rams find themselves light in the middle

Derby let go of both Conor Hourihane and Korey Smith with their contracts expiring on 30 June 2024, and with both Adams and Max Bird returning to their parent clubs - it means that the recruitment team need to focus on the midfield.

Thompson, 22, is Warne's most experienced midfielder contracted for the new season. However, his time at Derby has been fraught with injuries, spending the majority of the promotion season on the sidelines. The academy graduate will play a big role in the Championship, but he also needs quality surrounding him to help the Rams survive.

Fornah, 24, joined the club last summer and is yet to cement his place in the team. A back injury kept him waiting even longer to make a real impact on the pitch, returning just before the end of the season, while his less-than-inspiring start to life in black and white could be a concern for management going forward.

Robinson, 19, is the most inexperienced out of the three, making the bench in League One just a handful of times last time out. The Northern Ireland U21 is one for the future, but he still needs a loan to gain proper first team experience, and the Championship may not be the league for his development to continue at this time.

Klopp leaving could be a boost for Derby's chances

The Rams could benefit from the ex-Borussia Dortmund manager leaving after being denied Clark in both the summer and January transfer windows last season.

The England U20 international impressed the now former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders even before his call-up to the first team, however, their departures from the club could see Clark's game-time more limited in the future.

Arne Slot, who was officially announced as the Reds' new manager on Monday, may opt to send the young star out on loan to make way for his own signings. And with Derby's promotion back to the Championship, they could be the perfect club to take the midfielder on.

The Rams have a track record of developing youth, particularly in the middle of the park. Jason Knight and Bird are just two of the academy products that played over 100 games for the club before moving on, while the likes of Mason Mount and Harry Wilson have also benefited from loans at Pride Park in the past.

Warne's main loan target from the past may be one to re-enter the fold in DE24 next season, and it could be a move that proves to be perfect for all parties.