Why Cameron Jerome would be a wasteful signing for Derby County
According to claims from Turkish source A Spor (h/t Derbyshire Live), Derby County are interested in bringing former player Cameron Jerome back to Pride Park on a free transfer this summer.
The 34-year striker is currently a free agent following the expiry of his contract with Turkish top-flight club Goztepe, who have already released the veteran.
Jerome had a brief stint at Derby back in 2018 after joining from Norwich City. The former England U-21 international previously scored 6 goals in 20 appearances as the Rams failed to secure promotion via the playoffs.
Derby’s current attacking scenario
Derby County scored 62 goals in 46 games en route to their 10th-place finish in the Championship last season. Those numbers look pretty decent but the Rams will need to improve on their scoring record if they are to challenge for the playoffs next term.
Chris Martin finished the 2019-20 season as the most influential striker for Derby, bagging 11 goals and 6 assists. However, with the 31-year-old departing Pride Park following the expiry of his contract, manager Phillip Cocu will surely need to scour the market for a replacement.
Martyn Waghorn remains a key figure up top after his 12-goal haul in the Championship last season. But a replacement for Martin should still be high on the Rams’ agenda. More so, considering that Jack Marriott found the net just twice in the league.
Wayne Rooney could be a genuine option to lead the attack. But Cocu has looked more inclined to use the former England captain in a withdrawn role.
Why Cameron Jerome won’t be the answer
Despite his glorious track record of goals and assists in the Premier League and Championship, Derby County would be better off avoiding a move for Cameron Jerome this summer.
The 33-year-old’s recent form has been anything but impressive. He scored just eight goals in 50 league appearances for Goztepe over the past couple of seasons, numbers that clearly suggest his career is very much in a downward spiral at the moment.
In fact, the last time that Jerome crossed the 10-goal mark in any league campaign was way back in 2016-17 at Norwich City in the Championship. Playing a gamble on an aging striker wouldn’t be a smart choice, if the Rams want to push for promotion next season.
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Verdict
Cameron Jerome is nearing the twilight of his career at 33. And Derby need to be wary of his poor goal returns in recent seasons. The lure of signing an experienced striker for free is understandable. But this doesn’t look like a move that could get them challenging for promotion next season.
