Derby County have been credited with an interest in Stade Brestois forward and former Blackpool loanee Karamoko Dembele this summer – and the player himself would appear to be available for a move.

Dembele spent last season on loan in League One with Blackpool, where he shone; the attacker contributed to 23 goals last year.

That return in the final third earned Dembele the players’ player of the year and the supporters’ player of the year awards at Bloomfield Road, but the winger left at the end of his loan and has returned to France, and to parent club Brest. They themselves enjoyed an excellent season in Ligue 1 and pulled off a shock when posting a third placed finish and consequently qualifying for the Champions League.

Celtic academy graduate Dembele, who has been around for a number of years but is still only 21, is not expected to be involved in their European adventure, however; Brest’s sporting director Gregory Lorenzi confirmed to the media in France earlier this summer that Dembele would be one of a host of players who had spent last season out on loan but would be departing again in this window.

Derby were linked on Sunday with a move for Dembele, along with ambitious League One outfit Birmingham City, who have Karamoko’s older brother Siriki on their books. Karamoko, though, could insist on a Championship move having spent last season in the third tier. Derby, who’ll be well versed in Dembele’s talent, overcame the Seasiders back in October when the winger set up Kenny Dougall’s consolation in the Rams’ 3-1 win.