Eustace will go back to Watford

[Day]

Derby County have confirmed that John Eustace is not in line to become one of their permanent signings this summer.

But, as manager Nigel Clough steps up his chase for transfer targets, he says he may consider taking the Watford midfielder on loan once more.

Eustace has spent almost two months on loan at Derby.

He made nine appearances, of which six were starts, and scored his only goal for Derby against his parent club, Watford, in the Rams’ 3-1 defeat at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

“We will not be signing him permanently,” said Clough.

"He’s got a year left at Watford. If he’s still in the same situation at the start of next season, needing a loan, then we might look at that.

“But I think we have other priorities at the moment.”

Clough has made it clear that he wants to add up to six new faces to the squad ahead of next season and is now in active pursuit of them all.

He says the list of players Derby are looking at is long but progress is being made.

“Contact has been made with all the parties involved,” he said, when asked for an update on his targets.

"Rarely with these things do they (clubs) accept the first offer.

"How soon will new signings arrive?

“It’s dependent on other clubs as well. A few of the players are free transfers but two or three are under contract at their clubs, so we’ll be negotiating.”

The manager has already confirmed his interest in defenders Jake Buxton and John Brayford.

Buxton proved a key figure for Burton Albion as they won promotion from the Blue Square Premier to the Football League and is out of contract.

Brayford, the supporters’ player of the year at Crewe, would cost a transfer fee, having only joined the Railwaymen earlier this season.

Clough has also confirmed his interest in bringing Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan back for another loan spell.

“We are in a position with Barry where he is only 19 and I think he will want to go back to have a crack to see if he can get near Aston Villa’s first-team,” said Clough.

“If Villa sign some players, it might knock him down the pecking order and then we can go in for him early season if necessary.”

[url=http://therams.co.uk/stories/eustace-will-go-back-to-watford]http://therams.co.uk/stories/eustace-will-go-back-to-watford

[vicky-27]

He has not done enough to impress and has already got the nickname Useless we need better.

Dont get this bit though 'if he's still in the same situation at the start of next season, needing a loan, then we might look at this' Why ?

[Day]

Think he what he meant to say is there is no way we're buying you, but if you need a club and we're short of players we'd take you on loan again.