Reading midfielder George Evans is expected to become Derby County’s fifth signing of the summer, according to the Derby Telegraph.
Since becoming The Rams’ new manager in May, Frank Lampard has already made four new signings. The loan acquisitions of Mason Mount and Harry Wilson from Chelsea and Liverpool respectively were soon followed by two permanent signings. Dutch winger Florian Jozefzoon signed from Brentford for a reported fee of £2.75 million, before striker Jack Marriott joined from Peterborough United.
Evans would be the fifth first-team signing for Derby of the window, which is set to cost the club up to £1 million, but what would he bring to Lampard’s squad?
In January 2016, the 22-year-old signed for Reading from Manchester City, having made just one senior appearance for City and venturing on loan spells with Crewe Alexandra, Scunthorpe United and Walsall.
His move to Berkshire has seen him make 71 appearances to date, scoring four goals in that time. He primarily plays as a defensive midfielder, but has been utilized at centre-back at times. Not only does this make Evans a versatile option for Derby, but it also add an alternative choice in the middle of midfield.
The club already have Tom Huddlestone, Joe Ledley and George Thorne as candidates to play as a holding midfielder, but whilst Huddlestone and Ledley offer a wealth of experience, they are both aged 31 and are coming towards the end of their playing careers. Thorne’s injury problems in the past couple of seasons have limited the regularity of his playing time and the arrival of Evans may give Derby the option that they are requiring to hold the midfield together.
By playing Evans as an anchor in The Rams’ three-man midfield, it would allow the likes of Mount, Craig Bryson and Bradley Johnson more freedom to get forward and make a creative impact on the game.
Whilst his time at Manchester City on the pitch was very limited, Evans was at the club during the time when now Derby manager Lampard was playing for them. Clearly, Evans must have left a lasting impression on Lampard, as he wants to bring his former colleague to Pride Park.
Whilst Derby have been active over the summer, the club have stuck by their statement earlier in the window that they will limit their investments on players, and having recouped £2 million for the sale of Andreas Weimann to Bristol City, and with the arrivals of Mount and Wilson both on loan, they appear to be recruiting wisely.
The best part of £1 million, for a player who is 23 years old, versatile and one that Lampard sees as a familiar face could well a be a intelligently-planned venture for the club.
