Premier League sides Burnley, Everton and Leeds United have joined the race for Derby County skipper Tom Lawrence, as per a report from the Daily Mail.

The 28-year-old was a key player for the Rams during the 2021/22 campaign, taking the captain's armband and proving to be an integral force going forward, recording 11 goals and five assists in 38 league matches.

His contributions were vitally important in keeping Wayne Rooney's side in the race for survival with the Rams suffering from a severe shortage of options up top and Colin Kazim-Richards being unavailable for large chunks of the season.

 

 

Unfortunately though, the East Midlands outfit were unable to remain afloat in the second tier and this may affect the Rams' ability to keep the Welshman beyond the summer with his contract expiring at the end of the campaign.

There has been interest in the relegated side's skipper throughout the season with approaches from Fulham and Queens Park Rangers being rejected, according to a report from Football Insider in January.

And Burnley, Everton, Leeds and Anderlecht are the latest sides to have joined the race ahead of the summer window, with his current side unable to offer him fresh terms yet due to their takeover not yet being sealed.

That takeover deal is thought to be close to completion though - but it's currently unclear whether there's any chance of the Rams keeping hold of him as they prepare for life back in the third tier.

The Verdict:

At Goodison Park and Elland Road, it would be hard to see him being a regular starter so it will be interesting to see if Lawrence would be happy to settle for a place on the bench at first before potentially pushing for a spot in the first 11.

Anderlecht could be a good destination though to provide him with a fresh start and as Rabbi Matondo's links to England have shown, you can get noticed by English sides again if you impress in the Belgian top tier.

However, he isn't likely to be short of offers in his current country and this is why it would be hard to see him make the move abroad at this stage and a potential transfer to Turf Moor may be fruitful in terms of regular playing time, especially if they come down to the second tier.

What Lawrence probably needs at this stage though is a promotion-chasing season following a relegation-battling campaign, whether he remains at Pride Park or decides to ply his trade elsewhere.

If Derby can tie him down to a new deal against all odds though, he could be a real game-changer for the Rams and establish himself as a club legend after performing bravely during 2021/22.