Derby in talks to re-sign midfielder Clark

Bobby Clark made six Premier League appearances for his first club Liverpool [Getty Images] Derby County are in advanced talks with midfielder Bobby Clark for what we understand to be a fee of between £5m and £6m from Red Bull Salzburg. Clark spent his debut Championship campaign on loan with the Rams last season, quickly becoming a fans favourite and ending with a young player of the season award. His ability to execute a gameplan in a number of positions has been key to his success under John Eustace, who has clearly worked with him to take his game to the next level. Arriving on loan last summer, he looked like a player who may struggle physically with the demands of the Championship, but time played its role and his breakthrough performance came away at Ipswich Town as Derby earned a 2-2 draw at the early promotion favourites. Initially, he was someone who looked to operate in attacking midfield, but an injury crisis in midfield meant he played in a deeper role alongside the likes of David Ozoh and Lewis Travis and arguably played his best football there, with both Eustace and Clark crediting that moment as a crucial point in his development. In terms of the deal, the fee looks good on the surface of it for a 21-year-old English midfielder and falls into both the "win now" mentality and the long-term asset value the club have continued to drive home in the past few seasons. Timing-wise, the club have acted quickly and have clearly taken note from last season's window as Eustace looks to get his squad assembled sooner rather than later, after last season's slow start that ultimately cost them a play-off spot. When I spoke to Clark at the end of season awards evening at Pride Park about a return to the club, I saw the glint in his eye of someone who wanted to return and finish the job he started while continuing to enjoy his football. [BBC]