Eustace: Saito is someone everyone has been looking at

JOHN Eustace says Koki Saito is a player “everyone has been looking at” and added that it was “great” to be linked with the winger.

- By LEIGH CURTIS [e-mail] @LeighCurtis_DT

The Derby County head coach was asked about reports that emerged last weekend claiming the Rams had matched Lommel’s valuation for their winger.

Saito is expected to leave the Belgian club this summer, with Birmingham City and FC Twente also linked with the 24-year-old.

Derby’s need to add wide players to the squad has intensified because of Corey Blackett-Taylor’s hamstring injury, which means he will miss the next five weeks.

There are no genuine replacements out wide, which influenced Eustace’s decision to switch from a back four to a back three in last Saturday’s defeat by Coventry City.

When asked about the Saito links, Eustace stopped short of confirming a bid had been lodged but said: “I think he’s a player everyone has been looking at.

“We've been linked with a number of players. Obviously, it’s great to be linked with all the good players in the Championship and he's no different.”