Derby County look to be edging closer to appointing John Eustace with Blackburn Rovers now resigned to their boss talking to the Rams over a potential switch.
Indeed, it has now been confirmed by the Riversiders – via their X account – that the 45-year-old is eyeing a move away from Ewood Park to return to familiar surroundings in Pride Park, having previously finished his playing days pulling on a Rams shirt.
This will come as a major blow to Blackburn who are sat in the Championship playoff positions under the ex-Birmingham City manager.
Meanwhile, Derby languish near the foot of the division after Paul Warne had guided his lowly team to seven straight league defeats before being binned.
With Eustace in charge, the aim will no doubt be to rise up the league standings away from any relegation trouble, with this dream XI below what the Solihull-born boss could prefer if he is to take on the reins shortly…
1 GK – Jacob Widell Zetterstrom
In the goalkeeper position, Eustace is likely to persist with Swedish shot-stopper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom with the summer buy starring in patches this season for his relegation-threatened team.
Indeed, Zetterstrom has five clean sheets next to his name and has performed valiantly even as his side went on that lengthy losing streak, with seven saves amassed away at Cardiff City towards the back end of January.
2 RB – Ryan Nyambe
The first change could see Ryan Nyambe reinstated into the starting XI at the right-back spot after finding himself dropped for Derby’s last outing away at Norwich City.
After all, Eustace might view the ex-Blackburn man’s experience of the level as a big plus in trying to keep his new side afloat in the second tier, with Nyambe up to 196 career appearances in the Championship.
3 CB – Sondre Klingen Langås
Eustace would have loved to enter the building with Eiran Cashin still at his disposal, but the main Rams titan at the back has now departed his boyhood employers for a shot in the Premier League with Brighton and Hove Albion.
Therefore, the potential new Rams boss will have to make do with fresh centre-back recruit Sondre Klingen Langås instead, who did impress in flashes at Carrow Road last match.
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Costing £4m to obtain from his native Norway, it seems as if Langas is the natural successor to Cashin, with three clearances registered and one duel won in Norfolk.
4 CB – Nathaniel Phillips
He will likely be partnered by Liverpool loanee Nathaniel Phillips in a four-at-the-back formation, moving away from the five-at-the-back on show versus Norwich.
Whilst the 27-year-old is yet to pick up a clean sheet this season in the Championship, he has also impressed those watching on in spurts when times have been tough, with eight duels won away at Bristol City right at the start of January even as Derby fell to a slim 1-0 loss.
5 LB – Callum Elder
Another change defensively could come at the left-back spot, as a Warne favourite in Ben Osborn – who has been present 22 times in the league this campaign even as an ageing 30-year-old – is axed for promotion-winner Callum Elder.
Across that promotion-winning season, Elder was a utility member of the squad Warne could depend on, with the ex-Hull City man winning a high 4.3 duels per game this campaign when chucked into the team.
6 CM – Ebou Adams
With Eustace’s preference for a 4-2-3-1 formation coming into play here, he will want a tough, no-nonsense midfield presence in his ranks to shore up the defence and he has just that in Derby battler Ebou Adams.
The former Cardiff City midfielder has remarkably won 8.3 total duels a match in the second tier this season, alongside also being well-equipped to fire a goal home with four strikes tallied up.
7 CM – David Ozoh
Crystal Palace loanee David Ozoh looks likely to partner Adams in the central midfield area of the team, with the Eagles youngster also capable of rolling his sleeves up for the cause.
From his eight league appearances so far, Ozoh has won 5.6 duels per game with his promising showing against Norwich perhaps putting him in Eustace’s early good books, with seven ground duels successfully registered on top of completing all his dribbles when attempting to instigate a Derby attack.
8 RM – Nathaniel Mendez Laing
Nathaniel Mendez Laing is in need of breathing life back into his playing days at Pride Park, having only picked up two goals and four assists so far this campaign after a whirlwind League one season prior.
Indeed, the ex-Cardiff winger tore the third tier to shreds with a stunning nine goals and 16 assists picked up, with Eustace now wanting to revive the “crucial” ace – as he was once labelled by football journalist Jacob Hackett – back to his frightening best.
9 CAM – Kenzo Goudmijn
With this formation switch in place, Eustace could be prepared to push promising Dutch midfielder Kenzo Goudmijn further up the field into a number ten spot.
After all, Goudmijn has one of his two Championship goals for the season from this more attacking-oriented role, with his creative flair to pick up two assists also lending itself to this new spot in the side.
Having been labelled as “incredibly talented” by football journalist Jake Barker back in December, the 23-year-old star could now potentially thrive under Eustace’s fresh ideas.
10 LM – Marcus Harness
Marcus Harness will be hoping that a new manager occupying the Pride Park dug-out means more game-time is handed his way, with his cameo against Norwich City last time out gifting his side a crucial last-minute penalty.
Only starting 13 of his 26 Championship games this campaign, he could be set for an extended period in the first team under Eustace, with the ex-Ipswich Town attacker also a promotion winner from this level in the past.