League One side Derby County were keen on making a move for out-of-contract Aston Villa midfielder Conor Hourihane this summer before Wayne Rooney's departure, according to a report from The Sun.

The Irishman is set to depart Villa Park for free this summer and a return to former loan club Sheffield United looked to be on the cards, with manager Paul Heckingbottom admitting that he would sit down with the midfielder for talks regarding next season.

Football League World understands West Bromwich Albion were also interested in recruiting him, with the Baggies only a short distance away from his current side at Villa Park.

However, a deal to the Championship duo is yet to materialise and this could have allowed the Rams to secure the 31-year-old's services.

Better times could be on the horizon for the East Midlands outfit with David Clowes preparing a bid to rescue the club - and a takeover would have allowed the club to make a formal offer to Villa man Hourihane with a three-year deal being lined up.

However, it's unclear whether the Irishman will still be on the troubled club's radar following Rooney's departure on Friday, with the midfielder's future still uncertain at this stage as he prepares to become a free agent.

The Verdict:

Although they need to address all areas, this is arguably the position they least needed to look at because they already have Max Bird, Jason Knight and Liam Thompson at their disposal.

All three would shine in the third tier if given the opportunity to do so - and Krystian Bielik can also play in this role as a fourth option for the East Midlands outfit.

However, it's unclear whether the Poland international will remain at Pride Park throughout the 2022/23 campaign and with the Rams believed to be open to a loan move, something that may benefit all parties with the ex-Arsenal man's wages, they may not have him as an option.

Even if he is available, he may be needed in central defence with Richard Stearman and Curtis Davies' futures uncertain at this point as the club's takeover saga continues to rumble on and the latter not short of interest.

Hourihane would be a valuable addition as someone with promotion-winning experience under his belt and a player that still arguably belongs in the second tier despite not exactly establishing himself as the Blades' best player last term.