Slovenia international midfielder Timi Max Elsnik has stated that returning to Derby County and guiding the club to the Premier League would be a ‘dream’.

Elsnik joined the Rams as a 17-year-old in 2015, and he spent four years at Pride Park, making only three appearances for Derby, all in cup competitions.

Despite three good loan periods in the Football League, Derby released Elsnik in the summer of 2019, and he ended up returning to his home country to join for Olimpija Ljubljana.

Timi Max Elsnik discusses Derby County’s goals

That proved to be a fantastic decision for Elsnik, as he found his greatest form at the club, guiding them to a league title and two cup victories over the next four years.

During that time, Elsnik also forced his way into the Slovenian national team, where he has made 34 appearances, including one at Euro 2024.

Elsnik is currently at Red Star Belgrade, having joined the Serbian giants for €1.5 million in 2024. He routinely competes in European events and hopes to win another league title this season.

However, speaking with Derbyshire Live, the midfielder made it obvious that the Rams are still a club important to his heart, and he stated that returning to the East Midlands is something he is willing to do at some time in his career.

“Leaving Derby felt like a personal failure,” Elsnik reflected.You did not pass the test, and it is still with me. If I were given the opportunity to return to England, I would do so solely to show to myself and everyone else that I am capable of playing at that level, which I understand makes no sense given that I have competed in the Champions League and the European Championships.

“But I’d still like to return just to experience the Championship or, if feasible, the Premier League, simply because of the culture.

“It’s still in the back of my mind that I went there and couldn’t accomplish it; I couldn’t assist the first-team as anticipated. Obviously, when you sign, you have huge goals and big aspirations, and I always told Rob that after I was released, you never knew what can happen in the future.

“I would love to come back, but I don’t know how realistic it is, given the level I’m playing at now,” Elsnik admitted.

“Financially, it’s also challenging, but you never know; it would be a dream come true and a fantastic way to end my career if I were signed by Derby and promoted to the Premier League.

“It’s like starting a career on FIFA on the PlayStation and selecting a team in the lower divisions, playing until you reach the final stage, and winning the Champions League. It would feel similar with Derby. “That is the ultimate dream.”

Timi Max Elsnik has had a successful career since leaving Derby County – could he return?

Even though he did not have the desired impact for the Rams, everyone connected to the club will be satisfied with how things have worked out for Elsnik.

Of course, he deserves a lot of credit for that, because he demonstrated determination and quality after being released by Derby.

Now 27, he has accomplished a lot in the game, with the highlight definitely being playing for his country in a major tournament, but he believes there is still more to come.

Clearly, Derby is a club that means a lot to him, and given his background, you would have to believe he would bring a lot to the team in the middle of the park, even if John Eustace has some talented players on his roster.

With David Ozoh only on loan from Crystal Palace and Bobby Clark on loan from RB Salzburg, vacancies for a deeper midfielder may arise over the summer, and if the Rams are promoted to the top flight, a move for Elsnik may make sense – and that is the only way it may work financially for the player as well.