Why Andy King is a brilliant addition for Derby County
According to a report from BBC, Leicester City midfielder Andy King has joined Derby County on loan until the end of the season.
The Wales international, 30, struggled for minutes at Leicester this season and has been allowed to leave in search of game time.
Andy King, a graduate of Leicester City’s Academy, scored twice in 11 appearances during a loan spell with the Swansea City last season and has now joined the Rams’ promotion push as they look to return to the top-flight.
Derby County currently sit sixth in the Championship table, two points ahead of seventh-placed Bristol City and eight adrift of the automatic promotion places. The Rams have done very well under Frank Lampard, possessing a really talented squad that is capable of fighting until the end to earn promotion to the top-flight.
After the January transfer window deadline had passed, however, Joe Ledley mutually agreed to terminate his contract with Derby County. Ledley managed just four appearances under Lampard, with injuries hampering the Welshman’s season at Pride Park.
But with the deadline gone and the arrival of Andy King on loan for the rest of the season, Ledley’s chances to feature consistently were dramatically reduced and both the parties took the decision to end the contract prematurely.
It just didn’t work out for Ledley at Derby and now that he’s left the club, Lampard will hope Andy King steps up and reinforces the team’s midfield options.
A very good passer and reader of the game, King has been a one-club man, apart from a loan away from Leicester, having been on the books of the Premier League side his whole career and helping the club progress from League One to winning the Premier League in the process.
The 30-year-old’s chances at the King Power Stadium had become limited in recent times, and the move to Derby certainly suits all parties.
A player of King’s quality and experience would be a massive lift for Lampard’s promising squad, benefitting the young guns Mason Mount, Harry Wilson and Duane Holmes in their development.
Signing King, therefore, is a strong statement of intent from Derby in the midst of their promotion chase.