While Derby County's summer transfer business has so far impressed - Gary Rowett has completed deals for Andre Wisdom, Curtis Davies, and Tom Huddlestone - Tom Ince's departure has stripped the Rams side of creativity. The 25-year-old struck 14 goals and registered six assists during the 2016-17 Championship campaign with Derby before joining Huddersfield Town's Premier League escapade in a deal worth around £8 million.
Rowett is tasked with finding a replacement for Ince, while also improving on what they had available in the last campaign. Leicester City's Tom Lawrence has been mooted with a move to Pride Park, with Everton's Ademola Lookman linked with a season-long loan move. While Lawrence's arrival would be an exciting one for Derby, a deal for Lookman would change the entire dynamic of Rowett's squad.
Lookman made just eight Premier League appearances under Everton boss Ronald Koeman but impressed during his bit-part displays, the 19-year-old's pace providing a somewhat static Everton side an out-ball when transitioning forward.
Having already spent a season in the Championship with Charlton, and then in League One, Lookman looks set to gain additional minutes in what could prove to be the most important season in his short career. Lookman, in terms of Premier League experience, is hugely inexperienced and Koeman does not seem to trust the forward. He is, though, exactly what the Toffees need in their ranks at current and overlooking him as a genuine first-team player would be difficult to stomach for the teenager.
Lookman is an incredibly talented footballer, as shown with England Under-20s during the Three Lions' World Cup success this summer. His balance and ability to beat an opposing player in a one-on-one situation makes him an extremely dangerous option on the wing, shown most recently in Everton's 2-2 pre-season friendly with Sevilla. It was Lookman's introduction which sparked a change in momentum at Goodison Park, along with Kevin Mirallas on the other side of the pitch.
Everton's short-term loss would most certainly be Derby's gain, should Rowett and his team be able to complete a deal.
Continuing with his favoured 4-3-3 formation in Derby's opening Championship game against Sunderland, Rowett selected Andreas Weimann and Johnny Russell in the wide forward options. And while the former found some joy in behind opposing full-back Brendon Galloway, setting up Derby's opening goal after beating the Everton loanee, Weimann was largely anonymous before being replaced by Matej Vydra. Huddlestone's distribution from deep continued to open avenues on the flanks, opportunities in which Lookman thrives.
Aside from his natural athleticism, Lookman's intelligence sets him apart from other forwards. Whilst he excels in possession and at attacking opponents, the 19-year-old is comfortable in central positions and is capable of unlocking defences with his passing, especially in the second division.
Lookman would also provide Rowett with an opportunity to move away from a 4-3-3 if needed - a three of Lookman, Lawrence, and Vydra, behind Chris Martin, would be as good as any attacking unit in the Championship, with Bradley Johnson partnering Huddlestone in the midfield berths.
Lookman has nothing to prove in the Championship, but a huge amount to gain from first-team football in the Premier League. If Koeman does not trust his starlet in his side, and a happy medium is unobtainable in a loan to another top-flight side, then Derby will be the beneficiaries of an unlikely-but-golden opportunity.
