Jeff Hendrick’s hamstring strain appears to have held up a couple of big transfers.
It will be no surprise, to those of you that watched Euro 2016, to hear Jeff Hendrick is a wanted man.
The 23-year-old midfielder was Ireland’s most consistent, comfortable player at the European Championships as he mixed it with the likes of Eden Hazard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba.
In the immediate aftermath of the tournament, there were a raft of stories linking Hendrick with a move to the Premier League. Hell, Galatasaray were even said to be interested.
What we know is this – Burnley were the only side to make a concrete bid. Three of them in fact.
Perhaps it is because Burnley went £3m, £5.5m and then £7m that Derby County felt they could press for more. County held out, Nigel Pearson said he wanted Hendrick to stay and Burnley ended up buying Belgium’s Stephen Defour for £7m.
Derby's manager has responded to the Jeff Hendrick transfer rumours https://t.co/e1C2rsQFo7
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 4, 2016
That’s not to say that Hendrick will not be on the move. Middledbrough, Sunderland and Hull City are all said to have looked at Hendrick this season. SportsJOE understands Sunderland have made contact with County but no formal offer has been made. A hamstring injury has him on the sidelines but he should be fully fit in days rather than weeks.
Derby have had a poor start to the season and currently lie 17th, with a game in hand, after five games. Pearson has brought in James Wilson on loan from Manchester United but, according to the Bristol Post, has Bristol City striker Jonathan Kodjia lined up.
Kodjia, who is left out of the City squad for their game against Aston Villa, scored 19 goals in 42 league games last season. He would cost County an estimated £14m.
The club’s previous record signing was Bradley Johnson, from Norwich for £6m, in 2015. Their highest received transfer fee was £7m, for Seth Johnson’s move to Leeds in 2001.
Derby will allow Hendrick to leave for a fee in that £7m region in order to get the Kodjia deal over the line. The destination would appear to be up to Hendrick.
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