Why Derby County must go all out for Craig Halkett in January
Livingston have been surprisingly very good in the Scottish Premiership this season as they are currently sitting fifth on the table with four wins and three draws in the first eight games.
The Lions have been a joy to watch on their day but what has been a striking feature of the team is their defensive organisation. Gary Holt has put special emphasis on the defence, and the team holds the second best defensive record in the Scottish Premiership.
One man who has stood out in the Livingston rearguard is Craig Halkett. The 23-year-old has led the team by example and put in a colossal display at the back in the 1-0 win over Rangers in the league. Due to the 23-year-old’s solid displays for Livingston, he has already been linked with a move back to Rangers, according to the Sun.
Halkett came through the Rangers academy but never quite made the grade. He made no appearances and joined Livingston in 2016. As the 23-year-old’s contract at Livingston expires at the end of the season, should Derby County make a move for the player in January? They should.
Derby County have made an inconsistent start to new Championship season under new manager Frank Lampard. The Rams have been a thrilling side to watch going forward, with Lampard’s biggest achievement so far being the EFL cup win over Manchester United last month.
However, defensively, Derby have looked vulnerable at times and Lampard should take a dip in the winter transfer window to solve his team’s defensive woes.
Curtis Davies has been out of action since Derby’s opening game of the season due to a hamstring injury, while Richard Keogh has started ageing. With Davies and Keogh aged 33 and 32 respectively, and Fikayo Tomori slated to return to Chelsea at the end of the season, Derby should definitely splash the cash on a central defender in January.
Craig Halkett could be the solution. He is only 23 but has shown a lot of maturity at the back this season for Livingston. The 23-year-old has been a key player in Livingston’s back-to-back promotion from the third tier to the Scottish Premier League. And this season, the Scotsman has been a key reason behind their early success in the Premiership.
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Derby certainly need another defender for depth and Halkett could be a superb addition in January. With Halkett’s contract due to come to a close next summer, the U19 Scotland international could be an affordable target for Derby and the player will represent a coup for Lampard.