Erol Bulut gives key update in Derby County, Cardiff City transfer saga | OneFootball

Ebou Adams is nearing a return to Derby County

Highlights

Cardiff City have received an undisclosed offer from Derby County for midfielder Ebou Adams, with the two Championship clubs edging closer to striking an agreement, Bluebirds boss Erol Bulut has confirmed.

Bulut spoke following his side's 1-0 pre-season defeat to National League North outfit Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday evening. Due to advanced negotiations with the Rams, Adams did not feature in either of the two separate sides that Bulut fielded against Kidderminster.

Adams signed for Cardiff on a three-year deal in May 2022, having been named in the League Two Team of the Season after helping Forest Green Rovers to promotion under now-Luton Town boss Rob Edwards. However, Adams missed the entirety of his opening year in south Wales owing to a freak pectoral injury suffered in pre-season not long after signing.

The Bluebirds had made three separate managerial changes by the time that the Gambian international made a full recovery and he was unable to force his way into Bulut's plans before joining Derby County on loan for the second-half of the 2023/24 campaign. He made a significant impression in Derbyshire and became a fan favourite as the Rams secured promotion in second-place, and he's been strongly touted to return ever since.

Erol Bulut gives update on Cardiff City's Ebou Adams as Derby County make offer

It would appear as though Adams' return to Pride Park is close following Bulut's recent update.

"As far as I know we got an offer from Derby County but nothing is finalised, so until that moment Ebou Adams is still a Cardiff City player," explained Bulut.

"We didn't want to risk him [against Kidderminster] because we are close [to a deal] but in football you never know. Things may not get done, and today we didn't use him but tomorrow is another day, we never know."

Cardiff are hosting two further pre-season friendlies against KV Kortrijk and Penybont in the coming days before jetting off for their tour of Austria, where they'll face off against Hamburg and Hertha Berlin. As things stand, it looks unlikely that Adams will feature in any of those outings.

Ebou Adams Derby transfer return is best for all parties

Through no fault of his own, it simply hasn't worked out for Adams at Cardiff and at this juncture of his career, he needs to be playing regular football. Cardiff can't guarantee that, as he's behind Manolis Siopis, Joe Ralls, Ryan Wintle, and likely Eli King in the pecking order.

Derby can though, and he enjoyed a new lease of life under Paul Warne last term. The supporters instantly took to him and he quickly adapted to Warne's style, earning plaudits for his athleticism and ability to break up play in midfield. It's unlikely that Derby would've gone all the way and sealed promotion if they hadn't signed Adams, and they'll be hoping that he signs and can be just as influential in the Championship.

Cardiff will have designs of challenging for play-off contention next term and Adams isn't really at that level, but Derby's ambitions will be to avoid relegation and Adams could well emerge as a star turn for the Rams once again.

The value of their offer is not yet disclosed, but Warne may well have more funds at his disposal after receiving cash windfalls from academy products Omari Kellyman and Liam Delap. Kellyman, who joined Aston Villa from Derby in 2024, has recently signed for Chelsea in a £19m deal while Delap is closing in on a move to newly-promoted Ipswich Town after impressing on loan with Hull from Manchester City.