“I’m torn” – Derby County facing transfer dilemma involving Ipswich Town man
Marcus Harness was one of the key contributors for Derby County under John Eustace at the back end of the 2024-25 season, starting 13 of the 14 league games he took charge of.
The 29-year-old, on loan from Ipswich Town, registered just four goals and three assists in the Championship this season, a statline which hasn’t proven to Kieran McKenna that he’s worth keeping around for his side’s imminent second-tier season, with Harness due to be let go from the club when his contract expires at the end of June.
Football League World exclusively reported that Eustace is keen on keeping Harness at Pride Park, this time on a permanent deal, but FLW’s Derby County fan pundit, Shaun Woodward, feels his side can aim higher in the upcoming transfer window.
Derby County: “Torn” verdict issued on Marcus Harness rumours
Despite a positive end to the season for the Ipswich loanee, it hasn’t been the best of years for Marcus Harness going forward, who hasn’t been able to consistently put his stamp on proceedings at Pride Park.
Whilst Woodward respects his purple patch towards the back end of the campaign, he feels his club should be targeting those who can make an impact across all 46 games.
“I’m torn if I’m totally honest,” Shaun said when asked whether Harness joining back on a free would be a no-brainer.
“For a large part of the season, he was distinctively average.
“Under Eustace, though, he found a position alongside Yates when we were down to the bare bones, and for a spell he was a match winner, a completely different player to the one we had under Paul Warne.
“But, I think with the transfer window open, John Eustace can go and bring in some better players that fit his system, and I don’t think he’d be the right fit long-term.
“I think he did an amazing job in the league, but if I’m honest, there are better players out there and I don’t want to be blinkered by the fact he had a purple patch when we needed him.”
Marcus Harness could be better suited as a squad player for Derby County
Woodward believes that Marcus Harness shouldn’t be the answer to Derby County’s main attacking questions this summer, but he does believe that he could be a useful addition to the depth in the frontline.
He likened his potential arrival on a free to Andy Weimann, who is also linked with a move to Derby to reunite with Eustace, according to FLW’s sources.
“I think we have time now to assess and bring in better players. But, saying that, like Weimann, he’d be a useful squad player and good to have in the team,” he concluded.
27 of Harness’ 34 appearances last season for Ipswich came from the bench, and up until the final months of the season, he was one of Kieran Mckenna’s main substitutes in the side that secured promotion to the Premier League.
If this was set to be his role under Eustace going forward, an arrival on a free with the prospect of freeing up more money to bring in a striker with a higher pedigree may be a no-brainer move for Derby County.
