Leicester Midfielder Set for £7m Derby Switch After Impressing During Championship Loan Spell
Leicester City's forgotten man Tom Lawrence has attracted the interest of Derby County boss Gary Rowett and looks set for a £7m move to Pride Park.
According to the Sun, Derby view Lawrence as the ideal replacement for Tom Ince, who left for Premier League newcomers Huddersfield Town earlier in July.
In addition to replacing Ince, the Rams will also have to find a replacement for English midfielder Will Hughes after the 22-year-old joined Watford this summer.
Brentford talisman Jota has also been identified by Derby as a potential recruit as the club prepares to rebuild their squad with the sudden influx of money.
Lawrence scored 11 goals in all competitions last season whilst on loan at Ipswich, with stellar league performances coming in home fixtures against Reading and Blackburn.
The midfielder featured mostly on the left-wing for Ipswich last season, also being deployed as a striker on nine different occasions throughout the campaign.
IPSWICH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 30: Tom Lawrence of Ipswich Town and Luke Freeman of Bristol City compete for the ball during the Sky Bet Championship match between Ipswich Town and Bristol City at Portman Road on December 30, 2016 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
Stephen Pond/GettyImages
Lawrence has been identified as the perfect replacement for Ince, after being voted as Ipswich's player of the season last year.
Jota, who spent time with the Real Madrid Castilla side during the 2012/13 campaign, was used mostly as a right-sided attacker last season. The Spaniard scored 12 goals in 21 Championship appearances last season after returning to Griffin Park in December, having been on loan with La Liga side Eibar since January 2016.
