Why Lucas Piazon would be a brilliant signing for Derby County
According to a report from the Derby Telegraph, Derby County are plotting a January swoop for Chelsea outcast Lucas Piazon.
The 24-year-old Brazilian has been at Chelsea since 2012 but has hardly featured for the Blues, having gone out on loan to Malaga, Vitesse, Eintracht Frankfurt, Reading and Fulham over the last five seasons.
Lucas Piazon spent the last two seasons on loan at Fulham. Last season, he scored five goals in 22 league games as Fulham won promotion through the play-offs.
The forward returned to Chelsea earlier in the summer following the expiry of his Fulham loan spell. But he has become a forgotten figure at Chelsea, despite being heavily involved in pre-season under Maurizio Sarri.
As Lucas Piazon is out of contract at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, there is a possibility of him being available on a cut-price deal in January. That should certainly entice Derby County in making a move for the talented Brazilian.
Derby County manager Frank Lampard has used Chelsea as a source for signing players already, with youngsters Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori arriving on loan in the summer.
Mount and Tomori have settled in very well at Pride Park and Lampard looks set to raid his former club once again when the transfer window reopens.
Truth be told, the Rams have an array of attackers, with the likes of Martyn Waghorn, Jack Marriott, Florian Jozefzoon, Harry Wilson, Mason Bennett and Tom Lawrence all vying regularly for a place in Lampard’s XI.
However, Marriott and Wilson have only managed to establish themselves as regular fixtures in the team since Lampard has heavily rotated Bennett, Lawrence, Waghorn and Jozefzoon on the flanks.
Perhaps Lampard is thinking of adding another attacker to his squad following Mason Bennett’s long-term injury. However, it won’t be a bad idea to sign a forward to increase the squad depth in January given the gruelling nature of the Championship season.
Lucas Piazon has a wealth of Championship experience under his belt and played a key role in Fulham’s promotion last term. The Brazilian’s versatility would be an asset to Derby as Lampard could be able to use him anywhere across the frontline.
The 24-year-old is quick, creative and diligent, while he is also a clinical finisher in front of the goal. He would bring another punch of guile and invention to the Rams’ play in the last third.
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Piazon is well-versed with Championship football and would surely boost Derby’s promotion hopes. Therefore, signing the talented Brazilian would represent a massive coup for Lampard and Derby.