Derby County backed to sign "exciting" Reading FC star | OneFootball

Harvey Knibbs has been linked with a move to the Rams, having grown up in Derbyshire.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Derby County are in desperate need of reinforcements after a difficult run of form that has seen them drop back towards the relegation zone.

The Rams are currently 18th in the Championship, and have won just one of their last five games in the league. They are now only four points above the bottom three, and Paul Warne has his work cut out to make sure that they make moves back towards mid-table.

The January transfer window has come at the perfect time for the East Midlands side, and there will be a desire from supporters to see players coming in quickly, particularly in more attacking positions.

Therefore, Derby fans will be relieved to see the likes of Louie Barry already linked with the club, while Reading's Harvey Knibbs could also be an excellent signing, after it was reported on Monday by The Telegraph's Mike McGrath that a number of Championship sides are interested in the 25-year-old, including the Rams.

Knibbs could be a fantastic addition for Derby

Warne has made no secret of his desire to bring in more firepower, with a lack of goals being one of the key reasons behind his side's failings over the last few weeks.

The Rams have been given plenty of chances to find the back of the net, but they have failed to be clinical when the opportunity has come.

Bringing in a player like Knibbs will only help them in their quest to stay in the Championship, and Football League World has asked their Derby Fan Pundit, Shaun Woodward, whether he believes the Reading ace would be a good signing this month.

He told FLW: " I definitely think Derby should be looking to buy Harvey Knibbs. He's the kind of player who could come straight into our starting XI and I think he would improve us.

"I think he's shown for Reading over the last couple of seasons that he's got a real eye for goal. I think his record over the last couple of seasons shows that he's better than one in three. He can really create a lot as well.

"He's exciting, and I think he would improve on what we've already got. The likes of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Kayden Jackson and Marcus Harness are not really cutting it in the Championship, and I think someone like Knibbs would come in full of confidence because he's had a good season already."

Shaun continued: "He's at a great age, he's tall and he’s powerful. Unfortunately, Reading are struggling with off-field stuff, and we know how that feels. We’ve lost quite a few of our better players over the years because of that. It's sad to take someone's player under similar circumstances, but it's the reality of football.

"It's sad for Reading, but we need to think about ourselves and if we can get a player like Knibbs for a decent price, then I think we should be all over it. He would definitely improve us, and Derby should do all they can to get the player.

"He was also raised in Derbyshire, so that would definitely be something I would be using to my advantage if I was Paul Warne, as potentially he's got friends and family in the area."

Knibbs has had an excellent season at Reading despite the club's off-field issues

The Royals have had an incredibly difficult campaign, with ownership issues plaguing the conversation around the club. However, the players have been brilliant in ensuring that supporters can still have pride in their team.

Knibbs has played a key part in that, scoring eight goals, including a brace against his former side Cambridge United on New Year's Day.

Able to play in central midfield and just behind the striker, he is the type of player that Derby have been crying out for all season, and his ability to arrive into the box late will fit in well with the numerous crosses that are put into the box by the Rams' wide players.

At 25, he has time to become a dominant force in the Championship, and if he can provide the goals that he scored for Reading this season for the East Midlands side, then there is no doubt that they can push themselves away from the relegation zone.