Derby County Backed to Win Bobby Clark Race Despite West Ham Interest

Derby County have been handed encouragement in their pursuit of Bobby Clark, despite growing competition from Premier League side West Ham United for the highly-rated RB Salzburg midfielder.

Clark enjoyed an impressive loan spell at Pride Park during the 2025/26 campaign, emerging as one of the Championship’s standout young talents. The 21-year-old contributed three goals and four assists for John Eustace’s side as Derby mounted an unexpected push for the play-offs after narrowly avoiding relegation the previous season.

The former Liverpool academy graduate was nominated for the Championship Young Player of the Year award, and his performances have attracted widespread interest ahead of the summer transfer window.

Reports suggest that at least six clubs are monitoring Clark’s situation, with recently relegated West Ham among those keen on securing his signature. The Hammers are expected to provide stiff competition as they look to rebuild following their drop from the Premier League.

However, former Sunderland and England striker Kevin Phillips believes Derby still have a realistic chance of bringing Clark back to Pride Park on a permanent basis.

Phillips insists that the Rams’ hopes will depend heavily on one key factor – convincing the midfielder that he will continue to play a central role under John Eustace and receive regular first-team football.

Having already established himself within the squad and earned the trust of the Derby coaching staff, Clark could be tempted by the opportunity to continue his development in familiar surroundings rather than making the jump to another club.

RB Salzburg paid around £10 million to sign Clark from Liverpool in 2024, but after two years in Austria, the midfielder could be set for a return to English football.

With Derby eager to secure one of their most influential players from last season and West Ham ready to enter the race, the battle for Clark’s signature is shaping up to be one of the Championship’s most intriguing transfer sagas of the summer.