Derby County is aiming to secure their seventh summer signing with Jacob Widell Zetterstrom. The Rams have already added three new midfielders and two strikers but need to find a replacement for Joe Wildsmith after his unexpected release.
Efforts to sign a new goalkeeper have been intense, and they have reportedly agreed on a fee for Widell Zetterstrom. It’s believed Derby County struck a £1.4m deal with Djurgardens IF nearly two weeks ago, with the player having completed his medical at Moor Farm.
However, the confirmation of the goalkeeper’s arrival might still take a few weeks. Djurgardens director Bosse Andersson has detailed when Widell Zetterstrom could finally make the move to Pride Park.
Widell Zetterstrom is expected to join Derby County by August 29. Andersson, speaking to Fotbollskanalen, said: “Negotiations have been ongoing for a couple of weeks, and with any transfer, there are discussions between the clubs. Jacob has had an excellent spring and summer, making him an important player. The timing of his transition and the conditions are being discussed.
“We have agreed on the terms; the question is when he will leave. We aim for him to leave after our European Cup game, no later than August 29, to give us time to find a replacement and to keep Scandinavia’s best goalkeeper during a crucial part of the season with Allsvenskan and European games.
“The Championship starts for Derby on Friday. Jacob has already had his medical examination and met the club. The only point of disagreement is the exact timing of the transition. We plan for Jacob to play today (against IFK Gothenburg, Sunday) and in the European Cup matches against Tampere (Ilves). That is the current dialogue.
“The transition will definitely happen, but not immediately. It will occur later, and that is what we are discussing. A club waiting for something good will have to wait a bit.”
The delay places Derby in a vulnerable position. They might sign the 26-year-old as soon as August 16 after their second leg match with Ilves, but that’s still two weeks away.
The Rams are committed to completing the deal, but there’s concern that the Championship team could go three or four matches without a first-choice goalkeeper. They face Blackburn, Chesterfield, Middlesbrough, and Watford before Andersson’s deadline of August 29.
In the interim, Josh Vickers will have to step up, although his preseason performance has been less than impressive. While it’s not a disaster for the Rams, it does add pressure to finalize the deal, as they could be in a difficult position if Vickers remains their only senior goalie close to the transfer window’s end.