Ahead of the summer transfer window, Derby County might have received some early hope.
That comes after midfielder Ebou Adams made a suggestion that he would consider making the transfer from loan to Pride Park permanent.
Adams was a January addition to the Rams, coming from Championship team Cardiff City on a one-year loan that lasted until the end of the campaign.
Since then, the midfielder has enjoyed great success and developed into a vital member of Paul Warne’s team.
That culminated in Derby securing promotion back to the Championship after two years away on the final day of the League One season on Saturday, following a 2-0 win over Carlisle United.
Now it seems as though Adams would also be keen to play a part in the club’s return to the second-tier next season.
Adams comments on his Derby future
Given the success of his loan move, questions are already being asked about a potential long-term future at Pride Park for the midfielder.
| Ebou Adams League One record for Derby County – from SofaScore | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 17 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Pass Success Rate | 66% |
| Tackles per Game | 2.8 |
| Balls Recovered per Game | 5.1 |
| Clearances per Game | 1.2 |
| Duel Success Rate | 59% |
It seems that Adams has not completely ruled out the possibility just yet.
BBC Sport cited the 28-year-old as stating, “Words can’t describe,” in response to requests from Derby supporters for him to remain at the team. The fans, in my opinion, have said it all. I’ve had a great experience and I adore this place. It’s been amazing. To be honest, I’ve loved every minute of it. Thank you to the supporters and the team.
I owe them a great deal. They deserve at least a promotion, so I’m pleased to offer it to them. I hope they can go and do what they deserve to do next year.
Adams left Forest Green Rovers to sign with parent club Cardiff return in the summer of 2022.
Nevertheless, before his temporary transfer to Derby at the beginning of the season, injuries had limited him to 13 appearances for the Bluebirds in all competitions.
Currently, at the end of this season, the midfield player will enter the final year of his contract with Cardiff, so this summer may be their last opportunity to make a move on him.
Cardiff to face Derby next season
With Derby securing promotion to the Championship, they are guaranteed to play Cardiff in the 2024/25 campaign.
The Bluebirds currently sit 12th in the second-tier table, ten points adrift of the play-off places and 15 clear of the relegation zone with one game remaining, ruling them out of contention for promotion or relegation.
Erol Bulut’s side conclude their season on Saturday afternoon, when they travel to The New York Stadium to face Rotherham United, who are guaranteed to finish bottom of the table.
Derby must make Ebou Adams move
Derby should definitely aim to finalize Adams’ contract, especially in light of these remarks.
The midfield player appears to have had a great experience at Pride Park and has already established a close bond with the team.
Therefore, there’s a significant probability he would be willing to come back, and Derby would benefit from having him back.
Because of the agreement reached with Bristol City back in January, Max Bird is also expected to depart, therefore Warne’s team will require depth in the middle of the midfield.
Given the popularity Adams has already gained at Pride Park, his return would be a welcome statement of intent and assist to address that problem.
Due to his contract status and his limited playing time at Cardiff, the Bluebirds might be willing to negotiate a deal once the transfer market opens.
Derby will therefore need to attempt to seize any potential opportunity here with regard to Adams’ future.