Derby County told to conclude "unbelievable signing" as high-profile link comes to light | OneFootball

FLW's Derby County fan pundit discussed the club's links with a move for goalkeeper Mathew Ryan

Highlights

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 looking to make waves in the transfer window after winning promotion to the Championship, and they've been linked with a move that would certainly be a statement of intent.

According to Dutch outlet, AZAlerts, the Rams are interested in a move for Australian international Mathew Ryan, with the former Brighton and Arsenal man set to become a free agent this summer.

Ryan has spent the last season-and-a-half with AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie, but it's reported that there's no chance he will re-sign with the Dutch outfit, and that he'll be available on a free transfer in the coming months.

The 93-cap Australian international would certainly be an impressive signing for a newly-promoted Championship side, and supporters will be hoping they can get a deal over the line for the 32-year-old later this summer.

Derby County urged to seal a deal for Mathew Ryan

Our Derby County fan pundit, Shaun Woodward, believes that Ryan would be a great signing for his club this summer providing they can afford his wages.

Speaking to Football League World, Shaun said: "Matt Ryan would be an unbelievable signing for us.

"He’s a really good age for a goalkeeper, over 100 games in the Premier League, nearly 100 games for his country and has travelled around Europe and has bags of experience.

"For us going into the Championship, getting a really experienced goalie would just be superb and would really fit the bill.

"If we can afford his wages, then I think it would be a great signing for us."

Signing Mathew Ryan would be a real statement of intent by Derby County

To sign a goalkeeper who has played 124 games of Premier League football, as well as played on the biggest stage of them all at the World Cup, it would send a statement of intent to the rest of the Championship that Derby mean business.

Ryan featured regularly in the Eredivisie last season, so he's still a quality player, and 32 isn't very old at all for a goalkeeper.

Crucially, it's in a position of need for Derby too, as they only have one first-team goalkeeper on their books at the moment in Josh Vickers, so it's clear that they'll have to recruit in that position in the coming months.

After leaving English football in 2021, Ryan may feel like he has unfinished business here, and while he may not be able to command a Premier League move, particularly as a number one, he'd be a very good goalkeeper at Championship level.

If Derby were able to get a deal over the line for the Australian this summer, the Rams' fanbase would rightfully be ecstatic, and it would show that Warne's side aren't just here to make up the numbers next season.