Derby County face a setback in their Championship campaign after missing out on Divin Mubama, with Southampton now closing in on the Manchester City striker's loan signing. The Rams, who finished 8th last season with 69 points (20W-9D-17L), had been linked with Mubama to bolster their attack, but the 21-year-old now looks set to join the Saints instead.
Why Derby County needed Mubama
Patrick Agyemang's long-term injury leaves Derby short of attacking options, with Carlton Morris also sidelined last season and Rhian Brewster's fitness a concern. Mubama, who scored five goals and added one assist for Stoke City last term, could have provided much-needed depth up front. John Eustace's side have added Bobby Clark, Filip Bilbija, and Charlie Taylor this summer, but another striker would have been ideal.
What Mubama brings to Southampton
The 21-year-old impressed at Stoke with his physicality, winning 5.84 duels and 2.31 aerial duels per 90. His xG+xA of 0.37 shows promise, and he could be a key asset for Southampton, who are targeting automatic promotion after their play-off expulsion last season. His arrival may leave Derby County regretting their missed opportunity.
How this impacts Derby's season
With the Championship set to be fiercely competitive, Derby will need to find alternative solutions up front. The Rams face a 26-point gap to leaders Coventry and will need to improve on their 67 goals scored last season. Missing out on Mubama could prove costly in a tight promotion race.
