The transfer window has entered its final week, and League One Derby County could be a side that are busy this week.

This is Paul Warne’s first transfer window as Derby manager, and while he is still getting used to his new squad, the new boss is still looking to improve his side in this window.

The Rams have so far only brought Norwich City winger Tony Springett through the door, but it seems Warne is still keen for more additions despite the fact they managed to beat play off rivals Bolton Wanderers 2-1 at the weekend.

One player that Derby have been linked with is Stoke City’s Aden Flint, with a report from Football Insider last week stating that the club were in talks with the Potters over a potential deal.

The League One side were keen on signing the experienced centre-back in the summer, but Stoke managed to beat off the competition.

It’s been a struggle of a season for Flint so far, as he did start the season as a regular for Stoke but has since fallen out of favour. He has seen other defenders, Harry Souttar, Phil Jagielka, Ben Wilmot, Morgan Fox, and Connor Taylor all move ahead of him in the pecking order.

However, the Rams are not the only League One side to be linked with a move for Flint as promotion rivals Sheffield Wednesday are also said to be interested.

While Flint still seems an option for Derby, they should be looking at alternative options and one defender they should consider signing instead of Flint is Di’Shon Bernard from Manchester United.

Bernard is currently on the books at Old Trafford but has struggled for minutes this season and, in fact, could be available for a loan move in the remaining week of the transfer window.

Bernard was unable to secure a loan move away from the Premier League club in the summer as he was just recovering from a recent injury. Therefore, he stayed at United to complete his rehab and work his fitness back up.

The 22-year-old has now returned to fitness once again and has played twice in Premier League 2 for Man United’s under-23s and once in the EFL Trophy, a game where he played 88 minutes as United lost to Bolton Wanderers.

So, as the defender continues to build up his fitness, he could be made available for loan in this remaining week of the window, as he finds himself a bit away from the first team picture as United seem stocked in the defensive area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bernard isn’t unknown to the EFL, as the defender has had loan spells before, playing at Salford City in League Two before joining Hull City in the Championship last season.

The 22-year-old may be one of those players that plenty of sides come to look at as the deadline approaches. The Man United man brings versatility as part of his game, as he is able to feature at centre-back as well as play as a right-back, both positions that you could argue Derby need to strengthen this month.

As Flint seems to be a loan move, if Bernard were to join, that would also be a loan move; however, it seems more logical and better for the team that they move on from Flint and look at Bernard as an option.

Flint seems to be getting to the latter end of his career, and you just have to wonder if the defender still has the motivation to play at this level. While Bernard will come wanting to impress and improve, sometimes it is better to have a younger player like that than a more experienced one.