Derby County are poised to complete their second signing of the summer, ahead of their return to the Championship.
Derby made a slow start to the summer transfer window, although their business appears to be ramping up now.
Ben Osborn was first to arrive through the doors at Pride Park on Friday, joining on a free transfer following his release from Sheffield United.
The 29-year-old, formerly of Nottingham Forest, will add exceptional versatility having showcased his ability to play as a left-back, central midfielder and winger.
That is an important attribute for Paul Warne as he juggles his squad across a gruelling Championship campaign, with the Derby boss also needing a new striker.
Kayden Jackson is poised to join on a free transfer after leaving Ipswich while Swansea City striker Jerry Yates is closing in on a loan move.
Jerry Yates undergoing Derby County medical
Last week, it emerged that Derby had ‘beaten off interest’ from other Championship clubs to sign Yates on loan from Swansea.
The striker scored eight goals for the Swans in 2023/24 as they recorded a mid-table finish, with the Welsh side now looking to offload him temporarily.
Warne managed Yates for a brief spell at Rotherham, appearing 46 times under his management across four seasons.
Previously lauding the striker as “brilliant”, while claiming how much he loved working with him, Warne will be pleased to know that the 27-year-old is on the verge of completing his move to Pride Park.
Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke reported on Monday that Yates is undergoing a medical at Derby ahead of a season-long loan.
The former Blackpool forward will provide strong competition for current striking options, Conor Washington and James Collins.
What Jerry Yates will bring to Derby County
First and foremost, Yates will bring legs to a front line that is currently lacking.
Washington and Collins are both in their 30’s and Warne has previously spoken about needing energy and athleticism to stay in the Championship.
Yates is a pressing forward who fits that bill superbly. He enjoys chasing down lost causes and will apply pressure to every back line he comes up against.
Having that type of striker leading the line will be crucial to pushing Derby further up the pitch and can also see them take control of matches.
In terms of his goalscoring, Yates didn’t have the most prolific campaign last year, scoring eight times for Swansea in 43 Championship appearances.
However, he did join the Swans after netting 14 goals in 41 appearances for Blackpool in the second tier as they were relegated to League One.
If he can rediscover his form from the 2022/23 campaign, Warne will have a “fantastic” striker on his hands who can fire the goals required to keep them afloat.
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