Celtic and Rangers now eyeing Derby County star Derry Murkin

Sam Szmodics’ 100th league goal kept Derby firmly in the Championship play-off hunt thanks to a 1-0 victory over Portsmouth, but the Rams are braced for interest in one of their emerging stars from both Celtic and Rangers.

Derby keep play-off hopes alive with win at Portsmouth

Ipswich loanee Szmodics, who has also played for Colchester, Blackburn, Peterborough and Bristol City, scored the only goal of the match in the eighth minute, after being gifted space in the penalty box.

It meant the Rams ended a three-match losing streak on the road and sit just three points outside the top six.

For Portsmouth, they lost a fourth-successive fixture at Fratton Park for the first time since the 2013/14 season, have not beaten Derby in 12 attempts and languish just a point above the drop zone.

Next up for the Rams is a possible six-pointer in the race for top six, with Birmingham City travelling to Pride Park on Saturday afternoon, and John Eustace is facing something of an injury crisis against the big-spending Blues.

Josh Vickers, Jacob Widell Zetterström, Max Johnston, Sondre Langås, Danny Batth, Liam Thompson, Lars Jorgen-Salvesen and Callum Elder could all miss out, the boss confirmed.

“We’ll have to wait and see. I think most of the injuries now will come back after the international break.”

And the former Blackburn manager could suffer a further blow in the coming months, with news that one of his brightest stars over the last few weeks is now a wanted man.

Celtic ahead of Rangers in race for Derry Murkin

Indeed, despite only signing from FC Utrecht in the winter transfer window for a fee of around £1.7m, Derby left-back Derry Murkin is on the radars of both Celtic and Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, Football FanCast sources understand.

Murkin has been phenomenal for the Rams since joining on deadline day, ranking as the club’s highest performing player with two assists in seven Championship appearances.

Derby’s top Championship performers	Whoscored Rating
Derry Murkin	7.18
Matt Clarke	7.13
Callum Elder	6.97
Sondre Langås	6.95
Carlton Morris	6.94

Celtic are set to be in the market for a new left-back this summer if they miss out on a permanent deal for Marcelo Saracchi, and the Hoops’ interest appears to be more serious at this time.

Rangers are expected to undergo somewhat of a defensive overhaul this summer, with reinforcements needed right the way through Danny Rohl’s backline.

There are questions over the futures of Emmanuel Fernandez, who is wanted by West Ham, and James Tavernier, who is approaching the end of his contract.

Murkin can play up and down the left flank, but is at his best as an out and out full-back in a back four.