Derby want to sign a player who Nottingham Forest sold for peanuts in July 2019.
The Garibaldi’s bitter rivals are eager to reinforce after gaining promotion to the Championship, and they have set their sights on a player who has made well over 100 appearances for Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
So, who does Derby hope to sign? Let us have a look.
Derby want Nottingham Forest academy graduate Ben Osborn.
According to The Sun, Derby County want to sign Ben Osborn, who left Nottingham Forest five years ago.
The Reds traded the 29-year-old to Sheffield United for £3 million in 2019, after he made 230 appearances for Nottingham Forest.
Osborn started in Derby’s academy from 2002 to 2003 before going to Nottingham Forest’s junior system, where he spent a decade from 2003 to 2013, eventually making his senior debut that year.
Now, the guy born in Derby could cross into enemy territory to assist the Rams in adjusting to life in the Championship.
Watford are also interested in signing Osborn after he was released by Sheffield United, where he made 24 Premier League games and provided two assists last season.
29-year-old could enter the exclusive group.
Few footballers have played for both Nottingham Forest and Derby County, so Osborn may join an exclusive group this summer by doing so.
Previously, just a few players had done this, including Robert Earnshaw, Dexter Blackstock, Darryl Powell, Lars Bohinen, and Lee Camp.
Of course, Brian Clough famously took over Nottingham Forest in 1975, two years after leaving Derby in 1973.
Furthermore, the great Archie Gemmill joined Nottingham Forest directly from Derby, becoming the only player to re-sign with the Rams after leaving Pride Park for the City Ground.
Technically, Osborn signed academy terms with Derby before joining Nottingham Forest’s minor squad, making him the second player after Gemmill to do so if the Rams sign him this summer.
