Derby County should sign a player who was recently cut by a Championship team in an attempt to take a calculated risk.
Derby County finds itself in a challenging situation following their promotion back to the Championship.
The Rams intended to retain the majority of their promotion-winning squad, but Paul Warne will need to make changes to his roster this summer as the contracts of twelve players are up for renewal and six others have been cut.
Warne’s primary focus is midfield, as Derby only has teenager Darren Robinson, academy graduate Liam Thompson, and former Nottingham Forest player Tyrese Fornah remaining after the departures of captain Conor Hourihane, Korey Smith, Max Bird, and Ebou Adams.
To fill the vacuum left by Bird, Adams, and Hourihane and strengthen the core of their roster, the team should ideally sign at least three new midfielders.
Returning to the second division opens up fresh options for them during the transfer window because they are not restricted by EFL rules. However, they might still seek to the free market for motivation by adding a skilled midfield player.
Greg Docherty of Derby County might take Max Bird’s position.
Bird’s 14-year relationship with Derby has ended as the 23-year-old returned to Bristol City in January following his loan return.
In the end, it would be expensive to replace the academy graduate on the market, but they can fill that hole by signing Greg Docherty for nothing.
Hull City, a Championship competitor, has released the dynamic Scottish midfield player, bringing an end to his four-year tenure in East Yorkshire.
With 10 goal contributions in 41 games, Docherty was a major factor in Hull’s 2021 promotion back to the second division.
Because of his eagerness to give it his all on the field and cover every blade of grass, the 27-year-old became a crowd favourite at the MKM Stadium.
Despite his team moving up to the Championship, Docherty stayed in the game, making 75 appearances in the next two seasons. But when Liam Rosenior showed there, his participation was curtailed because he was more of a fan of people like Jean Michael Seri, Tyler Morton, and Regan Slater.
That wasn’t a reflection on his skill; rather, it was more about Hull’s goals after missing the playoffs by just three points the previous season.
The former manager Grant McCann praised the midfield “machine,” who only made one league start in 2023–2024 and is eager to start a new chapter in his career.
What Derby County might gain from having Greg Docherty
Docherty’s team lacks technicality—averaging only 71% pass completion in the Championship—but he more than makes up for it with his powerful midfield runs and lung-bursting bursts.
With Docherty in the lineup, it’s like seeing two players because he’s willing to run through concrete barriers for the team. He has unmatched persistence and intensity, and his ability to make contributions from deep is another strength of his game.
He contributed five goals and five assists to Hull’s League One title-winning season. He can add to that amount if Warne gives him the licence to charge ahead.
Derby will be without a ball-carrying machine in the form of Bird, who can help them move up the field. Docherty may be a key player in getting past the press because of his surprising speed when sprinting with the ball.
Getting the Scotsman on a free transfer would be a great move; he’s a workaholic midfielder with the ability to produce the extraordinary.
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