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Derby Linked With Blues Target Crooks
Saturday, 12th Jun 2021 09:46

Town reportedly face opposition from Championship Derby County for Rotherham United midfielder Matt Crooks.

The 27-year-old is among the players currently being targeted by Blues boss Paul Cook but, according to the EADT, the Rams are also eyeing Leeds-born Crooks and may make a move, although they are currently subject to a transfer embargo which prevents them from paying fees. Derby’s A52 rivals Nottingham Forest were interested last summer.

Town have already shown that they can win out against Championship clubs this summer with Coventry, Hull City and MIllwall having all been after Wes Burns, who became the Blues’ first signing of the summer a fortnight ago.

We understand Luton Town were among the other sides keen on Rekeem Harper, whose signing from West Brom for a fee of around £500,000 on a three-year deal is now expected to be confirmed early next week.

Crooks, who plays primarily as a defensive midfielder, was a schoolboy with Manchester United’s academy before moving on to Huddersfield with whom he made one senior appearance.

While with the Terriers he spent time on loan at FC Halifax, Radcliffe Borough and Accrington before joining Stanley on a permanent basis in 2016.

In July 2016 he joined Rangers in Scotland but six months later he departed for a loan spell at Scunthorpe having been unable to make an impression at Ibrox.

A switch to Northampton followed in the summer of 2017 before he moved on to Rotherham in January 2019 and was a member of the side which won promotion to the Championship the next season, scoring both goals - out of a campaign total of 11 - in the Millers’ 2-0 victory over the Blues at Portman Road.

In 2020/21, Crooks netted seven times as the South Yorkshiremen dropped back into League One.

In March it was reported that Rotherham had held preliminary talks with Crooks regarding a new deal in the wake of the interest from Forest with his current terms up next summer.


Photo: Action Images



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90z added 10:45 - Jun 12
If Derby are still in financial trouble I would assume they would have to sell players before they bring in. Crooks looks like a strong player that we have definitely missed in the middle of the park !
6

TonyHumesIpswich added 10:55 - Jun 12
Think they will sign players regardless of finances.
1

markchips added 11:20 - Jun 12
Hopefully will go through suspect if it comes to it a few fringe players will be paid off to free up the wage bill. Remember cook runs with a small squad of adaptable players
3

bluesteal74 added 11:24 - Jun 12
This really would a good signing for us if we get do hopefully we will he's s good player and the kinda player we are going to need. COYB Up the Town.
1

Linkboy13 added 11:46 - Jun 12
The omens are not looking good for this deal, unless we are offering very good money. If i was a player i would rather be plying my trade in the championship and Derby is geographically better for him. Sorry to be so negative just living in the real world. The fact that this deal seems to have gone quiet might be the reason they turned to Rekeem Harper although they could have similar problems with this one.
3

tractorboybig added 11:53 - Jun 12
if true not coming here then
1

spanishblue added 11:57 - Jun 12
We do appear to have persuasive management to argue our corner nowadays,so hoping it works in our favour
3

Oldboy added 11:58 - Jun 12
Think he would rather join an upwardly mobile club, rather than one with massive financial problems. Hope to see him join our revolution early next week.
3

RegencyBlue added 12:18 - Jun 12
Depends on whether he wants to join a basket case club, the owner wants out but can't sell Derby for love nor money, or a club who are at the start of something good.

2

Blueballs83 added 12:59 - Jun 12
I think Derby at still under transfer embargo!
0

Blueballs83 added 12:59 - Jun 12
I think Derby at still under transfer embargo!
0

IpswichT62OldBoy added 13:10 - Jun 12
It would say a lot about how Town are being seen if he did choose to join us
0

blues1 added 13:11 - Jun 12
Linkbo
1

blues1 added 13:16 - Jun 12
Linkboy13, tractorboybig. Ur basing ur comments on what? Weve already signed 2 players who had championship clubs after them so it doesnt mean its certain we'll miss out here. Yes, we probably wont get every target we are after but if he wants to join a club wholl have a points deduction at the start of next season and therefore a good chance of being relegated rather than join a club aiming to go up then thatll be his choice. Nothing to do with the status of our club as u seem to suggest.
0

groundhog added 13:24 - Jun 12
A defensive midfielder scoring 7 (seven) goals in a season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
0

Monkey_Blue added 13:35 - Jun 12
Derby were shopping for far more expensive players but suspect they could at worst match wages, as someone said offer a more local opportunity and offer undoubtedly a higher league. Derby have financial issues but if we could attract a buyer in league one I suspect they'll get one eventually. The debt issue depends on how much the owner is prepared to write off. Saw very little praise of Evans for dumping most of the cash he'd invested overboard.
0

Monkey_Blue added 13:37 - Jun 12
As someone from Notts who went to Uni in Sheffield and also knows Derby he's maybe even able to not even have to move house. South Yorkshire to Derby on the M1 is about 4 junctions.
-2

Monkey_Blue added 13:39 - Jun 12
Less than an hours drive depending on where he lives and where the rams training ground is.
-2

TonyHumesIpswich added 14:01 - Jun 12
According to reports they are still able to sign players so long as they are free transfers.

The Transfer Embargo only impacts fees for Derby, therefore they will be looking at a large number of free transfers this season.

This transfer has taken a long time to go through, generally not a good sign.
1

Monkey_Blue added 14:30 - Jun 12
TonyHumesIpswich…. Don't worry if he doesn't sign he'll get slagged off for lack of ability of being a mercenary on here. It amazes me how many fans think players with no connection to club or area who have a career to think of should just choose their club. If I were a league one player out of contract who wasn't an Ipswich fan, I'd make the beat choice for career, financially and family.
1

runaround added 15:09 - Jun 12
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/transfer-embargo-d

Above story suggests Derby can sign players only if no transfer fee is involved so unless Rotherham are giving him away for free then Derby cannot currently sign him
2

Countryboyblue added 15:38 - Jun 12
Derby are not a threat. They are financially crippled.
2

therein61 added 16:19 - Jun 12
Usually when someone else shows interest in a player we are after it's good night Vienna, but under our new regime who knows? it will be a feather in our caps if we pull it off if not then onto the next one.
1

dirtydingusmagee added 10:01 - Jun 13
if we have a chance ,at least its a better one than when Evans ran the show.
1

gosblue added 12:57 - Jun 13
We'll be in the prem before Derby.
0


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