Exclusive: Derby County backed to sign "solid" player from Coventry City | OneFootball

Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie gives his thoughts as Derby County eye a move for Coventry's Jake Bidwell.

Derby County are interested in signing Jake Bidwell from Coventry City this summer, with a Sky Blues exit potentially on the cards.

The 32-year-old signed a new deal at the club in January, stretching until 2027, but he is attracting interest.

Reports from MailSport suggest that Derby are weighing up a move for the experienced left-back, adding even more experience in a window that has already seen the likes of Andi Weimann and Danny Batth make the switch to Pride Park.

Derby have already brought in one left-back this summer, with Liverpool youngster Owen Beck joining after spending last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie was asked whether Bidwell is a good potential signing for the Rams, and suggested that he is exactly what is needed for Derby in the Championship.

"A brilliant squad player" - Lee Hendrie makes Bidwell claim

"It looks like they are going down the more experienced route, and Jake Bidwell definitely fits that," said Hendrie, after Derby have already added Danny Batth, Andi Weimann, Carlton Morris and Richard O'Donnell.

"I think you know what you are going to get with Bidwell. He is solid, he is experienced, he can play a bit further up the pitch as well. Whether he will play week in and week out is a different question, but absolutely no doubt he is a brilliant squad player at this level."

Hendrie went on to emphasise again, the route that Derby and John Eustace are going down in regard to their recruitment: "It looks like, though, Eustace is going down that route of bringing experience in."

Derby secured their Championship future under Eustace last term, and are now looking to further settle down in the division, and the added experience will do the Rams absolutely no harm when it comes to doing that.

Bidwell a perfect squad player for the Rams

With highly-rated Liverpool full-back, Owen Beck, already through the door, the chances are that Bidwell is not going to be Derby's main man on the left side of defence.

In Eustace's view, Beck is "one of the most exciting full-backs in the country for his age," and it's said that Liverpool are keen for Beck to continue his progression with a second successive stint in the Championship, having caught the eye at Ewood Park last time out.

A product of the Reds' academy system, Beck has made three senior appearances on Merseyside, but the bulk of his career has been spent on loan amid spells with Bolton Wanderers, Dundee FC and most recently Blackburn.

With a 10-year age gap between Beck and Bidwell, the latter would not just be a valuable option to potentially sit behind Beck in the pecking order, he would also offer valuable insight and know-how at Championship level.

Bidwell's best days are naturally now part of the past. However, his 425 Championship appearances tell the story. The full-back has been a fantastic player throughout his career, and this will only benefit a young and emerging left-back in Beck.

If Bidwell was moving to Pride Park as one of the central cogs in the side, question marks would be understandable. However, the addition of further experience makes perfect sense as Derby look to progress further up the table under Eustace.