Derby County head coach Paul Warne has revealed that the signing of free agent Dwight Gayle could be completed today, providing the paperwork is approved by the EFL.
The Rams stayed on course in the title race on Saturday afternoon with a narrow 1-0 win over Stevenage thanks to a goal in the 90th minute from Louie Sibley, who bagged his second of the season so far and could be his most important by the end of the campaign.
While the win was a huge positive for Warne’s side, the biggest negative for the club was that star striker James Collins wasn’t included in the squad to face Stevenage at the weekend. The manager disclosed that the former Republic of Ireland international will be out for a “significant” number of weeks.
Collins is the Rams’ top goalscorer this term, having found the net 13 times in 35 matches. However, the Irishman now joins quite a worrying injury list which also includes Martyn Waghorn, Conor Washington and Craig Forsyth.
As a result, winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing started through the middle for Derby County on Saturday afternoon, but the side managed to register merely two shots on target during the game.
Speaking after the game, Warne admitted that Derby are hoping to complete the signing of Gayle early this week to alleviate their woes up top, but are awaiting approval from the EFL [quotes via Derbyshire Live]:
“I’ve got a list of two names and I’ve gone for my first one and all the paperwork has been done and was handed in yesterday [Friday].
“The EFL are still working with us in trying to make it happen and hopefully it will,” he continued.
“It is Dwight Gayle, but I’ve met him and he has a couple of other clubs chasing him. We are doing everything we can to get him in the building. But we still have to follow what the EFL want from us.
“We have done everything we can but hopefully when I go in Monday morning I will get the news that it’s all done. At least two other clubs are trying to do the same thing with him. We are in the hands of the EFL.”
It is unclear who the “two other clubs are”, although Port Vale boss Darren Moore recently declared his side out of the running for Gayle.
Writer’s View
The ex-Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion frontman is an experienced striker with plenty of history in the EFL despite having yet to make an appearance in League One. Nevertheless, it looks as though this deal will come to fruition very soon, although Warne wants it done as soon as possible, particularly with a massive game to come on Saturday away at Barnsley.
The 34-year-old will likely only sign on for the remainder of the campaign and Derby County will assess the situation at the end of the season. However, his record of four goals across four seasons won’t fill supporters with much confidence.
Leave a Reply