Derby County have seen both incoming and outgoing transfer activity this week as right-sided defender Kane Wilson joined on a permanent deal from Bristol City on Monday, whilst midfielder Jason Knight went the other way to link up with the Robins on Tuesday.
Head Coach Paul Warne spoke to RamsTV during the side's week-long pre-season training camp in Spain to discuss the recent business following the additions of defender Sonny Bradley and striker Conor Washington at the back end of last week.
"Kane is a player that I tried to sign last year when he went to Bristol City from Forest Green Rovers," Warne admitted.
"He's a wing-back that bombs on. There's parts of his play that we need to help him with, if not he'd be at Manchester City! I'm not saying we're getting a 'young Cafu' at right-back but he's a really athletic player and likes to get forward.
"He had an amazing season for Forest Green Rovers the season before last in a team that romped the division. I tried to sign him then but got outbid by Bristol City."
"I've kept my eye on him and know he didn't get as much game time last season so he's an athletic young player that has something to prove and I like players like that," he added.
"I like players that come to Derby County and think this is the best place they've ever been to and 'this is going to make me'. These are the players I like to sign and he's definitely one of them."
Whilst there was the excitement of getting the addition of Wilson, the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Season in 2021/22, in the building, Warne admitted that he was sad to see midfielder Jason Knight depart - although he wished the Academy graduate well in the next stage of his career by returning to the Championship.
The midfielder made 166 appearances at first
team level, scoring 14 times, after making his professional debut in
August 2019 after completing two years as a scholar in the Academy.
"Knighty was brilliant, I loved Knighty," he explained.
"He virtually started every game I was here. I'd have loved to have kept him and in fairness when I first came in, out of everyone I knew Knighty the most because of his energy. I love players that can run and put a shift in for the team.
"He's at that stage where a lot of players get to in the last year of their contract where they don't want to re-sign because they want to play at the highest level they can. If we'd have got promoted back to the Championship it would have been a different conversation but understandably from his point of view he wants to go back to the Championship and he's entitled to as long as the club is happy with the offer. If the club are happy with the offer then I'm happy with it and I'm happy for him."
"I spoke to Knighty and told him if he ever needed advice on anything going forward then I'll help him any way I can," he added.
"We've had players before that have left us and still reach out to us now and ask us to watch clips with them and say what we think and it's no different with Knighty.
"We thank him for what he's done. I don't think people disagree with what has happened, it's the same as what happened with Didzy when he joined Notts County, but for different reasons, and we wish him all the best.
"We just have to now try and recruit players very similar to him to give ourselves a right chance in the season ahead."
