Derby County barely lost out on the play-offs this season under John Eustace.

The Rams were in contention on the penultimate day, but a 2-1 loss to Sheffield United put them four points behind sixth-place Hull City.

The club will now be looking to strengthen its first-team squad over the summer in order to maintain a top-eight status in the Championship, with the play-offs increasing to include two more teams in 2027.

One major transfer could be a permanent move for Bobby Clark, who has spent the season on loan from RB Salzburg.

The midfielder was a crucial role for Eustace’s team, scoring three goals and assisting three times in 42 league games.

However, there is no assurance that Derby will be able to complete a deal at this time.

Derby County faces a fresh threat in their pursuit of Bobby Clark.

Reputable West Ham insider ExWHUEmployee has revealed that the club is interested in signing Clark this summer, which could be a significant blow to Derby.

He claims that the midfielder is on the Hammers’ radar as they seek to strengthen their options for life in the Championship next season after finishing 18th in the Premier League.

“An interesting option who also had a loan spell and has now returned to his parent club is Bobby Clark, who was on loan at Derby County last year,” the insider told The West Ham Way.

“He is 21 years old and now plays for Red Bull Salzburg.

“He is the son of Lee Clark, a former Newcastle and Sunderland player.

“He is also at a reasonable price.”

Clark joined Derby last summer and quickly established himself as a valuable member of the team.

Eustace has stated that the Rams are interested in a permanent deal for the 21-year-old.

However, they will face opposition from Rangers, who are trying to rebound from a poor third-place finish in the Scottish Premiership.

It is unclear how much RB Salzburg would have to pay to cash in on Clark’s interest.

Bobby Clark could be enticed by the West Ham switch.

Clark had a solid season on loan with Derby, and he worked well under Eustace, so it’s probable he’ll want to continue that and stay at Pride Park.

However, a move to West Ham will be intriguing because they are one of the favourites for automatic promotion, which provides a pathway to Premier League action.

Given his potential availability at a low price, Derby may be able to compete for his signature.

However, if they want to compete with West Ham in terms of desire, they must demonstrate Clark their own Premier League ambitions.