BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
DERBY COUNTY manager Steve McClaren has admitted that he is eyeing FOUR Hearts players after watching the Jambos defeat Rangers on Wednesday night.
The former England boss travelled to Edinburgh along with technical director Chris Evans and four other members of the club’s staff as they give serious consideration to a January move for Scotland full-back Callum Paterson.
McClaren saw Paterson, who is out of contract next summer and will not be signing a new deal in Gorgie, turn in a superb display against the Gers, setting up the opening goal for Robbie Muirhead in the 2-0 win.
While impressed by the 22-year-old, McClaren admits John Souttar, Jamie Walker and Bjorn Johnsen are also on the Rams radar as they aim to surge up the SkyBet Championship.
Walker is contracted until the summer of 2018, while Johnsen and Souttar penned deals until 2019, ensuring Hearts would demand transfer fees of at least six-figures to consider selling any of the trio.
McClaren told the Derbyshire Telegraph: “Our scouts have been out and about.
“Yes, people are talking about Paterson but the [John] Souttar boy at centre back, [Bjorn] Johnsen up front and [Jamie] Walker boy playing out wide are there too.
“There are about four players the scouts said ‘yes, have a look at them’, so Wednesday was a great opportunity to go up and do that.
“We are always on the lookout and keeping track of players, and that’s why I was there.”
