Derby County’s transfer target, Jacob Widell Zetterström, may not be available until after the Rams’ first three matches of the 2024/25 season.
Paul Warne’s team returns to the Championship tonight after a two-year absence, facing Blackburn Rovers at 8 p.m. at Ewood Park, with the match broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The Rams have had a strong transfer window so far, addressing weaknesses in attack and midfield left by departing players. However, their biggest challenge this summer has been securing a reliable goalkeeper.
Their Golden Glove-winning keeper from last season, Joe Wildsmith, was released at the end of the campaign and has since joined West Bromwich Albion.
Although Derby has two goalkeeping options in Josh Vickers and Rohan Luthra, neither is expected to be the primary starter throughout the season unless injuries occur.
The Rams have been linked with Mathew Ryan, Marek Rodak, and Daniel Iversen, but their next first-choice keeper is expected to be Widell Zetterström.
The 26-year-old Swedish international is poised to join Derby from Djurgårdens for £1.4 million, but the transfer has faced delays.
Paul Warne had acknowledged that they had identified a goalkeeper target, later revealed to be Widell Zetterström, but hinted at a “complication” that would become clear after the signing, according to BBC Derby journalist Dominic Dietrich.
Dietrich disclosed that Zetterström was scheduled to play for Djurgårdens in Europa Conference League qualifying matches on July 25th and August 1st, and wouldn’t join Derby until after those dates. As a result, he was unlikely to feature in any pre-season games with the Rams and would have limited time to prepare for the opening match against Blackburn.
As of today, the day of the Blackburn fixture, Zetterström has not arrived. The Telegraph reports that he will join Derby after playing in Djurgårdens’ Europa Conference League third-round qualifier second leg against Ilves on August 15th.
This means he will miss tonight’s match against Blackburn and the EFL Cup tie against Chesterfield on Tuesday, and could also miss the game against Middlesbrough on August 17th, as he would only arrive in the country the day before, leading to three missed fixtures.
Derby County fans are likely frustrated by the situation. Widell Zetterström appears to be a promising addition, especially given the current lack of quality options in goal. While Josh Vickers can fill in for now, his previous role as a backup in League One speaks volumes.
Despite the hope for Zetterström’s future at Pride Park, the time he is missing is significant. Derby isn’t expected to have an easy time in the Championship, and being without their first-choice keeper, even for just two games, could prove costly.
The club will hope that his late arrival proves worthwhile; otherwise, questions may arise about why they waited so long to secure his services.