---
title: "Derby County: Rams plotting move for Curtis Nelson"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/derby-county-curtis-nelson-cardiff-city-latest-transfer-news-rumours-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Chloe Chadwick"
section: "Derby County News"
published: "2022-11-07T19:10:35Z"
modified: "2022-11-07T19:10:35Z"
---

# Derby County: Rams plotting move for Curtis Nelson

**[Derby County](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/derby-county-news/) are plotting a move to sign Cardiff City defender Curtis Nelson in January, according to journalist Alan Nixon.**

### The Lowdown: Bluebirds exit likely

The centre-back has fallen out of favour under interim boss Mark Hudson in south Wales, having made just [seven](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/curtis-nelson/leistungsdaten/spieler/148299) league appearances this season, so an exit during the winter may well be on the cards.

The 29-year-old’s contract with the Bluebirds is [set to expire](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/cardiff-city/berateruebersicht/verein/603) at the end of the season, which has alerted potential suitors to his situation, and it appears that the Rams are keen on bringing him to [League One](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/league-one-news/).

### The Latest: Derby eyeing Nelson

According to Nixon (via [Football League World](https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/derby-county-target-january-transfer-agreement-for-cardiff-city-player/)), Derby are ‘interested’ in getting Nelson to Pride Park in the New Year, with Paul Warne wanting to ‘capitalise’ on the player’s circumstances by ‘striking a deal’.

The report states that the Rams boss is ‘looking to add more depth’ to his defensive ranks as a result of not being ‘keen’ to rely on the experienced partnership of Curtis Davies and Richard Stearman to remain fully fit for the remainder of the season.

### The Verdict: Davies’ long-term successor?

Davies isn’t getting any younger (37) and is likely to be coming towards the end of his career, so if he doesn’t commit to a fresh deal at the end of the campaign, Nelson would seem to be an ideal successor.

Dubbed ‘[excellent](https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/cardiff-city-transfer-headlines-boss-23655446.amp)’ by former Cardiff manager Steve Morison, the defender currently averages 3.3 clearances and two successful aerial duels per 90 minutes in the league ([WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/134169/Show/Curtis-Nelson)).

\[freshpress-poll id=”414745″\]

Nelson would likely be rewarded with more game-time in the Midlands, and with him in need of minutes and Derby in need of reinforcements, this is a prospective move which would appear to suit both parties.