Derby County issued warning over potential Sergi Canos transfer deal - there's "a lot of question marks" | OneFootball

The Spanish winger could be making a return to the Championship

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Derby County have been one of the Championship's most active clubs throughout the summer, and John Eustace is continuing to search for reinforcements as his side look to progress up the table this season.

After preserving the Rams' second tier status in May, the 45-year-old has made 10 signings in the current window to date, with several offering strong experience in the division as well as significantly boosting his midfield and attacking departments.

Derby have scored five times across their opening three encounters against Stoke City, Coventry City and Bristol City, but created very little in the way of clear-cut openings against the Robins in particular on Friday night, with rumours now circulating that the East Midlands side are one of a handful of clubs plotting a move for ex-Brentford winger, Sergi Canos.

Derby County stance offered as ex-Brentford man Sergi Canos linked with potential Pride Park transfer move

According to a report from Spanish journalist, Salva Gomis, the 28-year-old has been deemed surplus to requirements at current employers Valencia - currently managed by former West Brom head coach, Carlos Corberan - and has an offer on the table from Derby, who are being rivalled for the Spaniard's signature by LAFC of the MLS.

Gomis' update states that Canos is expected to depart Spain as a whole this summer, and has already rejected an offer from a Turkish club. With the aforementioned news generating plenty of opinion, given Canos' reputation in the Championship during his time with the Bees, FLW's Derby fan pundit, Shaun Woodward, offered a cautiously optimistic stance on this potential deal, despite being concerned over his injury record and lack of minutes.

"I've just seen the news regarding Sergi Canos. Back in his Brentford days he was brilliant, when they had that amazing attacking line-up," Woodward told FLW.

"It's been a few years since and I've heard he's had a few injuries, so it's a bit worrying to see what he's still got in the tank and whether he's lost that yard of pace.

"He's not really done much in the last couple of seasons, so it's a bit unknown really, but that looks like the type of player we're going for at the minute - either someone who's fallen out-of-favour or got a point to prove.

"He's one of those again that, if fit, could be a real coup for Derby, but there's a lot of question marks over him and a lot of the players we've signed.

"If Eustace thinks he can come in and do a job for us then I'd be excited to see what he can do, because we are in desperate need of wide players that can create, so it's an exciting one."

Sergi Canos and Derby County would both benefit from potential Valencia transfer agreement

Since falling down the pecking order at the Gtech Community Stadium amid fitness, Canos has only registered 17 goals and assists since January 2023 for Olympiacos and Valencia, meaning it is clear that he needs to get back to his best, which certainly came during the Bees' run of promotion bids under Thomas Frank.

The Nules-born man often went under the radar in comparison to the likes of Neal Maupay, Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma, but still accumulated a total of 30 goals and 29 assists at Championship level during two spells with the club that were sandwiched between an underwhelming stint at Norwich City.

It is clear that Eustace is in the market for a new left-sided winger too, having recently been linked with Kaide Gordon and Koki Saito where, despite reportedly leading the race for the Japanese playmaker, he looks set to return to Queens Park Rangers.

It remains to be seen what fee Valencia are to demand for his services, and Derby may have to negotiate a potential reduction in wages, with Canos ESTIMATED to earn €28,846 (£25,000) per week at the Mestalla, but it would represent yet another shrewd piece of business if the club were able to fend off Stateside competition.