On Friday night, Derby declared the signing of Ben Osborn, a free agent.
The 29-year-old makes a contentious transfer to Pride Park after leaving Sheffield United after their Premier League relegation.
Despite being raised in the Rams academy and born in Derbyshire, he played 230 games for Nottingham Forest, his bitter rivals, in 2003.
The positionally versatile Osborn, who is again back in the Championship with Paul Warne, has a lot to contribute in their battle for survival, and that outstanding signing might come before the arrival of several strikers.
Kayden Jackson, a Premier League free agent, is expected to join Derby County.
It was announced on Friday that forward Jerry Yates would be joining Derby on loan from Championship opponent Swansea City.
Following that, there were rumours of another seasoned centre forward being linked to Warne. According to Sky Sports, Warne signed a contract with Kayden Jackson, a free agent, following his release from Ipswich Town.
After the Tractor Boys finished in second place and were promoted to the Premier League, Kieran McKenna utilised Jackson sparingly. In 29 games, the 30-year-old started just nine of them.
Jackson scored three goals and provided four assists, including goals against Preston North End and Stoke City from the bench.
Sadly, the centre forward, who was born in Bradford, has never been the most prolific scorer, so even if he signs, supporters won’t be very optimistic.
According to Kayden Jackson’s goal record, they require additional firepower.
In order to support their survival drive, Warne is searching for a striker who can score at least ten goals in the second tier.
James Collins only managed 14 goals in the league the previous season, and he will probably score fewer as they go to the Championship.
The team that had the joint-lowest scoring totals in the playoffs therefore needs more firepower, and based on Jackson’s past performance, that firepower won’t come from him.
Although limited playing time at Ipswich might be blamed for the former Accrington Stanley striker’s inability to score more than three league goals in his previous four seasons, this trend has followed him throughout his career.
Jackson has only scored ten goals or more in a season twice: in League Two (2017–18), he scored fifteen goals for Accrington, and in League Three (2020–21), he scored eleven goals for Ipswich.
Although he will provide the Rams with “electric” pace to penetrate defences, he lacks a clinical edge in the closing third, which is precisely what Warne needs if they are to win.
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