Derby County bid farewell to several players whose contracts expired, and the most recent member of that group has caught the eye of a League One team.
The summer transfer activity at Derby has ramped up over the past week. Following Ben Osborn’s acquisition on Friday, strikers Kayden Jackson and Jerry Yates were confirmed on Tuesday, joining from Ipswich Town and Swansea City, respectively.
Paul Warne is well aware of the fierce challenges in the Championship and the necessity to bolster his squad with quality to achieve the desired points target. Some tough choices were made at the end of the previous season, including releasing captain Conor Hourihane and goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith from their contracts.
While Hourihane reunited with his former club Barnsley, Wildsmith is currently without a team, although a League One side has expressed interest in him.
Recently, Barnsley has shown keenness in signing Wildsmith permanently, with journalist Adam Oxley hinting at a potential double swoop for former Derby players by the Tykes.
Despite finishing in the top six last season, Barnsley aims to return to the Championship in the upcoming campaign, and the addition of Wildsmith could prove crucial to that aspiration.
As Derby continues the search for a new goalkeeper to fill the void left by Wildsmith, names like Mathew Ryan and Daniel Iversen have surfaced as potential targets.
Warne is on the lookout for a new first-choice keeper, with only Josh Vickers currently on the senior squad list.
Wildsmith’s departure this summer came as a surprise to many, given his stellar performance last season, earning him the Golden Glove Award for keeping 20 clean sheets in 40 matches to aid Derby’s promotion push.
Despite Derby’s decision, Wildsmith remains a sought-after goalkeeper in the top tier of League One, and any club aspiring for promotion would benefit from his talents.
With an impressive track record of 38 clean sheets in 91 League One appearances, Wildsmith could significantly enhance Barnsley’s squad if a deal materializes.