Following a poor end to last season, Derby County will seek to launch another promotion challenge in the Championship this season.

Derby had a successful year last season, spending much of the season in play-off contention, but they missed out on a top-six spot on the final day after losing at home to Sheffield United, despite the fact that Hull City’s victory meant that even a win would not have been enough for John Eustace’s side.

Derby County are planning transfer raids on Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace

With the play-offs already down to ninth place, Derby will be hoping to improve on last season’s close call, but it has been a rather quiet summer at Pride Park.

So far this summer, the Rams have signed two new players: defender Charlie Taylor and winger Filip Bilbija from Southampton and Paderborn, respectively, while midfielder Bobby Clark has signed a permanent deal from Red Bull Salzburg for around £6 million following a successful loan spell.

Derby, on the other hand, are said to be closing in on a new agreement for Ipswich Town forward Sammie Szmodics, and they are also apparently ready to make a bid for another of last season’s loanees, David Ozoh, who is valued at roughly £5 million by Crystal Palace.

Ozoh does not appear to be the only midfielder on the Rams’ radar, as TWTD reports that the Midlands club, along with Birmingham City and Sheffield United, are interested in Ipswich’s Jack Taylor.

Taylor scored one goal in 39 league games for the Tractor Boys last season as they gained automatic promotion to the Premier League, 24 of which came from the start, but Derby may have to fight hard to recruit the 28-year-old, with Birmingham reportedly leading the race.

Derby County encouraged to secure David Ozoh’s return ahead of the Jack Taylor trade

When asked which of the two associated midfielders he would most like to sign, FLW’s Derby County fan pundit Shaun Woodward claimed that the Rams should prioritise Ozoh’s return before battling Birmingham for Taylor.”I believe Jack Taylor is an excellent player,” Shaun told FLW.He has played 30-40 games per season for the past four to five years.”He is a reliable and solid professional who has never let Ipswich down.”He is in his late twenties and has plenty of time ahead of him.If he stays fit, he’s an excellent player to bring in.

My issue is that we don’t want to engage in a bidding battle with Birmingham.”I don’t think he’s that good that we should pay over the odds.”David Ozoh’s injury history is a danger, but if he remains healthy, he is a seven-year-old talent with a high potential for profit.”I would still look at Ozoh.”If that isn’t doable, Taylor isn’t a bad guy to keep an eye on, and if we can swoop in at the appropriate price, that’s fantastic, but Ozoh should be my top priority.”

Derby County is experiencing transfer dissatisfaction amid the Jack Taylor and Birmingham City update.

Taylor has earned promotion from the Championship twice during his time at Ipswich, and his knowledge might be important for Derby as they prepare to make another run for the Premier League next season.

The Rams appear to be in line for a significant cash injection, with rumours indicating that Saudi Arabian boxing entrepreneur Turki Alalshikh is close to a deal to invest in the club, which might give them the wherewithal to compete with Birmingham for Taylor’s signature.

However, with the Blues appearing in prime position to sign Taylor, Derby may need to focus their efforts on reuniting with Ozoh, and the financial boost from Alalshikh’s arrival will most certainly allow them to reach Palace’s stated £5 million value of the 21-year-old.