Derby County looked to have finally turned the corner after securing crucial back-to-back wins to cement their position in the top six.

The Rams had been on a disastrous run that ended up with Gary Rowett's men losing 4-1 at home to lowly Sunderland, but they have picked up maximum points since.

Such form prompted the ex-Birmingham manager to drop captain Richard Keogh, with Alex Pearce coming in at ceentre-back alongside Curtis Davies.

However, according to Alan Nixon from The Sun, Rowett is targeting Darragh Lenihan from Blackburn Rovers as he searches for a new centre-back this summer.

The Irishman has suffered with injuries in the past but has proven himself to be a very strong player for Tony Mowbray's men when available.

Lenihan has impressed with his no-nonsense approach and strong displays and is clearly catching the eye of Rowett.

Although, any deal for the player could be dependent on various factors this season, with Derby hopeful of reaching the Premier League whereas Rovers would be reluctant to lose a key player if they were promoted back to the second tier.

The Verdict

There's no doubt that Lenihan is a very good player and won't be playing in League One next season, although Rovers will hope to keep him should they go up.

Yet, if Rowett firms up his interest a move to Derby could be very tempting for the player.

However, both clubs and the player will have a lot more to concentrate on for the moment as the season comes to its conclusion.

Thoughts, Derby fans? Would you take Lenihan? Let us know in the comments below.