Derby County have placed an offer for a goalkeeper who previously drew interest from Premier League giants Liverpool.
Derby is off to a strong start in preparing for the Championship, having cleared out several surplus players while bolstering their midfield and attack. The departures of Conor Hourihane, Max Bird, and Korey Smith necessitated new midfield signings, which led to the acquisitions of Ben Osborn, Ebou Adams, and Kenzo Goudmijn. Additionally, the attack, which was among the weakest of the play-off teams last season, has been strengthened with the additions of Jerry Yates and Kayden Jackson.
However, the critical position yet to be reinforced is goalkeeper. With only Josh Vickers remaining after the exits of Joe Wildsmith and Scott Loach, Paul Warne has been actively seeking a new shot-stopper. While an attempt to sign Mathew Ryan fell through as he joined Roma, Derby has now submitted a bid for another international goalkeeper.
Derby County Bids for Djurgarden’s Jacob Widell Zetterstrom
According to Sportbladet, Derby has submitted an offer for Djurgarden’s goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom. Although the bid’s value has not been disclosed, it is reportedly far from Djurgarden’s asking price for the 26-year-old.
Back in May, Birmingham World reported Liverpool’s interest in Zetterstrom, and recently, Djurgarden’s sporting director Bosse Andersson confirmed that there are no current negotiations to sell him. For Derby to secure the Swedish goalkeeper, they will need to increase their offer substantially.
Who is Jacob Widell Zetterstrom?
Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, born in Stockholm, began his youth career at Djurgarden before moving to IFK Lidingo in 2014. He returned to Djurgarden in 2019, where his career took off. The goalkeeper made his debut for the Swedish national team in a 2023 friendly against Iceland and has since become one of Europe’s standout goalkeepers.
Djurgarden’s sporting director Bosse Andersson has praised Zetterstrom, calling him the best player in Allsvenskan during the spring and a spectacular goalkeeper. Despite the increasing interest, Andersson insists that Djurgarden would only consider selling if an excellent offer is made, as Zetterstrom is crucial to their success. His performances, including seven clean sheets in 14 matches this season, underline his importance.
With Djurgarden currently contending for the top spot in the Swedish first division, losing Zetterstrom could significantly impact their title chase. This makes Derby’s pursuit of the talented goalkeeper challenging, as they will need to present a compelling bid to secure his services.