Derby County’s eighth-place performance last season was unexpected, as the Rams improved dramatically in their first full season under John Eustace.

While no one expected Derby to be involved in another relegation battle now that the former Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers manager had a full summer to prepare, a play-off push was regarded as unrealistic this time last year.

However, Eustace led his team to within 90 minutes of completing in the top six, briefly taking sixth place on the last day. This year, eighth place will be enough to qualify for the revised play-offs, so preserving, or even improving, that position will be the goal at Pride Park.

Derby County hopes to welcome Sammie Szmodics back to Pride Park this summer.

Derby mastered the loan market last season, with Bobby Clark, David Ozoh, and Ben Brereton Diaz making significant contributions throughout the season, and Jaydon Banel and Sammie Szmodics joining in January to boost their play-off chances.

The latter is someone the Rams head coach is familiar with, as Szmodics was his talisman in his first half-season at Blackburn, and both Eustace and the Irish attacking midfielder were instrumental in Rovers losing only four of their final 17 games and remaining in the Championship that year.

Their collaboration was short-lived, however, as Ipswich Town signed Szmodics to the Premier League for up to £11 million two summers ago. 18 months later, the two were reunited at Derby after the 30-year-old struggled to break into the Ipswich squad.

Szmodics scored three goals in 13 games during his loan stay at Pride Park, and John Eustace stated near the end of the season that he wanted to keep him at Derby, believing he could improve even more with a full year at Pride Park.

Gary O’Neil provides important Sammie Szmodics transfer hint amid Derby County interest.

With two years left on his Ipswich contract and the Tractor Boys not wanting to take too big a loss on the 30-year-old, Derby were always going to have to pay a hefty seven-figure fee to secure him.

The Portman Road club has put its asking price at somewhat more than £4 million, and the Rams have been negotiating a deal for more than a week.

However, Ipswich manager Gary O’Neil has recently stated that Szmodics will most likely transfer this summer. The Irishman’s absence from the Tractor Boys’ pre-season could be due to injury or his upcoming exit.”I see something happening with Szmods [Szmodics],” O’Neil stated. “He’s been a fantastic servant for the club, top guy, but there have been a few bits going on. “He has a sore knee, but I anticipate that Szmods will move in the coming days.”

TWTD of Ipswich has stated that Derby are aiming to pay an initial £2 million, which may increase to £4 million, but other Championship clubs have also expressed interest in the 30-year-old.

Sammie Szmodics would make a statement of intent for Derby County in the play-off race.

According to the Telegraph, Derby are hoping to sign an investment deal with wealthy Saudi boxing promoter Turki Alalshikh as early as next week, which would provide the Rams with a significant cash influx.

Although it is thought that John Eustace’s team will want to sign Szmodics regardless, the 30-year-old may provide a significant boost to Derby’s chances of finishing in the top eight next season.

The Rams manager appears to understand how to get the most out of the Irish offensive midfielder, and given that he started every league game he was available for at Pride Park during his loan term last season, Szmodics clearly has a fan in Eustace.

If John Eustace can train the 30-year-old to register half of his attacking danger during the 2023/24 season, Derby will still have an attacking midfielder capable of scoring 12-15 goals, giving them a significant advantage over their rival play-off contenders.

According to Gary O’Neil, the 2023/24 Championship Golden Boot winner appears to be leaving Portman Road this summer, and the Rams will want to be first in line to sign him.