Derby County have a massive midfield headache heading into the summer. With just three contracted players in the middle of the park for next season, Paul Warne has a busy transfer window ahead and Bolton Wanderers’ Josh Sheehan could be a top target to help the Rams survive in the Championship.
Sheehan joined the Whites in 2021 after being released from Newport County. Since then, the Wales international has been a key part of Bolton’s rise up the League One table, featuring 82 times in the league, pitching in with eight goals and 15 assists.
However, after signing a new contract last summer, Sheehan has just one year left on his deal at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, leaving his future in the North West uncertain.
Derby are in need of signings to help strengthen ahead of the new Championship campaign. Max Bird, Conor Hourihane, and Korey Smith are just three of the midfielders that left the club following the conclusion of last season – with the former joining Bristol City back in January before returning to the Rams on loan for the rest of 2023/24.
Bolton lost out to Derby on final day
At 29, Sheehan is closer to the back end of his career than the start and the opportunity to test himself in the second tier, a level he’s not yet reached, must be appealing to him.
Derby beat Bolton to second place on the final day of the League One season, reaching the Championship automatically after a 2-0 home win against Carlisle United. The Whites were then defeated in the play-off final against Oxford United last month, consolidating the team to a fourth consecutive season in the third tier.
The failure to achieve promotion may influence Sheehan’s decision, and with strong teams in Rotherham United, Huddersfield Town, and Birmingham City dropping from the Championship, the race for the top six will be stronger than ever this year.
The Rams have pedigree in the second tier, and although they were last there in 2022, the club is now without the financial problems that eventually saw them relegated, and are now free to spend on transfer fees.
Sheehan could shine bright at Pride Park
The former Swansea City player was a bright spark for his side last time out. His performances as a holding midfielder were indispensable in Bolton’s third-place finish, as Sheehan made his way into League One’s Team of the Season.
His ability to pick the ball up in front of the backline and start attacks from deep could be of great interest to Warne, who utilised Hourihane in this position for the majority of his time in charge. With Sheehan four years the junior of Derby’s former club captain, he could make the position his for a number of years to come.
The Rams played a very different style of football to Bolton last season. The Whites averaged 59.5% of possession throughout their matches according to FotMob, whereas Derby averaged just 51%. The stark contrast could stop Sheehan from making Pride Park his next destination, however, he could be the inspiration behind a new possession-based football for Warne.
Josh Sheehan 2023/24 Stats (FotMob) | |
Appearances (Starts) | 43 (39) |
Assists | 12 |
Pass Accuracy | 84.4% |
Chances Created | 62 |
Tackles Won | 68.8% |
Duels Won | 61.7% |
With 12 league assists in 2023/24 and a passing accuracy of 84.4%, it is clear that the 29-year-old could make the step-up in divisions in the very near future, and Derby should be targeting him from the off.
Were they to pinch him from Bolton, it would be adding insult to injury. Not only did the Rams beat out Wanderers to the final automatic promotion place, going up to the Championship may allow them to swoop for one of Ian Evatt’s key players.