Louie Sibley’s contract at Derby County is set to expire this summer at the end of the League One season.
The 22-year-old progressed through the Rams’ academy system before breaking into the first-team squad for the 2019-20 season.
He has been a fixture in Paul Warne’s League One team this season, appearing 38 times as the club earned promotion to the Championship following a two-year absence from the third tier of English football.
However, his contract is about to expire, which means he may leave Pride Park for free this summer if no renewal is agreed upon.
With promotion secured, discussions will undoubtedly begin over whether or not to pursue an agreement with the talented youngster.
Does Louie Sibley deserve a new Derby County contract?
Shaun Woodward, FLW’s Derby fan analyst, believes Sibley has done well enough in recent weeks and months to warrant a new contract with the Rams.
Woodward believes Sibley’s switch to wing-back has made him a more mature and well-rounded member of the Pride Par
“If you’d asked me about Louie Sibley three or four months ago, I’d have probably said he needs a new challenge, he needs time away from Derby,” Woodward told Football League World.
“But in the final few months of the season, he really stepped up.
“He scored some vital goals, he played the wing-back position superbly, and he wasn’t diving in.
“He appears to have evolved and improved as a player, making the correct decision more often than not today.
“We always thought he had a knack for scoring and could do something great, but he’s just been a little more consistent, a little more mature, and reads the game really well.
“I would give him a new contract.
“I think he deserves it after what he’s done in the last two or three months of the season.”
Derby County’s Promotional Success
Derby sealed second place in League One on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Carlisle United.
Max Bird and James Collins scored to help Warne’s team finish second, ahead of Bolton Wanderers.
However, the Whites dropped points in a 3-3 tie with Peterborough United, leaving the margin between the two clubs at five points.
Derby will now prepare for life in the Championship, having won a return to the second division following two seasons in League One.
Derby County will almost certainly prioritize Louie Sibley’s contract.
Sibley came through Derby’s academy system, thus he has a close connection to the club.
He contributed to the Rams’ promotion back to the Championship and now deserves to play a role in their impending survival attempt.
Derby will almost certainly want to extend his stay, especially given his recent performance.
It’s unclear how much the club will be able to spend this summer, but keeping Sibley also means they won’t have to spend any money replacing him in the squad, as he’d go for free anyhow.
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