Lee Buchanan has been a regular in the Derby County starting eleven over the course of the last two seasons and at just 20-years-old has become a reliable face for the club in their defensive backline.

With 12 games so far this year, he has been a reliable face for them in the league. He’s helped them gather clean sheets and gain valuable points and his workrate in stopping opposition attacks and then starting attacks of his own has been superb. Always one to put a foot in and try and win the ball for his side too, he has been quite invaluable for the Rams despite his relative lack of experience at this level and his age.

In a team that has been decimated by administration and left to rely on a lot of younger players, he has shone – and other teams have noticed too.

 

 

In fact, he’s starting to get some admiring glances from outside of England, with Celtic eager to bring the player in according to The Sun. They see Buchanan as a solid but cheap signing, with the player’s current deal set to expire in the summer.

It means that if Derby don’t have the funds to offer him fresh terms, then they could decide to cash-in on him for a nominal fee in January – or Celtic could even play the waiting game and snap him up on a potential free at the end of the season.

So could Buchanan leave and should he?

Realistically, a departure is very likely. With Derby currently in a torrid financial position, it means that they need to consider letting go of some assets and with interest in the player’s services, he could certainly be touted to potential buyers like Celtic in the winter window.

If they can find a buyer before then, it may be a different story heading into the new year. As it stands though, the left-back is definitely someone who could make way to aid the Rams financially.

As for if the player should leave, a move to Celtic would definitely be a tempting proposition. The defender would have the chance to challenge for league titles in Scotland, could cement himself as one of the top left-backs in the league at one of the best teams in his division and prove his talent and could even get a crack at European football by moving.

All of those things would only be possible currently with a move to the SPL – Derby likely won’t be challenging for any titles this year with their current position, they can’t offer European football and although he may be one of the Rams’ better players, he may have to move elsewhere to prove just how good he really is to everyone else who don’t watch the club on a regular basis.

A move then could benefit both parties as things stand – but the Rams ideally wouldn’t want to lose Buchanan and if the player could, it may be worth staying on at Pride Park, cementing himself as a firm star with the second tier side and showing how he can be one of the best defenders in the league before moving on at the top of his game. Right now, a move to another side when he may not be at the peak of his powers with Derby could be a risk for the player.

Celtic though is an alluring prospect – and with no buyers confirmed yet, it may be a worthwhile move for the defender.