Derby County reportedly held an interest in Liam Millar throughout the summer transfer window, with the Canadian international now flourishing on loan at divisional rivals, Birmingham City.
That is according to BBC Sport, with the Rams' start to the Championship season proving to be far from ideal for John Eustace as they sit inside the relegation zone.
Derby finished the 46-year-old's first full season at Pride Park just outside the play-off places having avoided an instant return to League One on the final day of the 2024/25 campaign.
As such, there were certainly high hopes amongst supporters in this part of the East Midlands that their club would be able to continue their upward trajectory in the current term and break into the expanded play-offs for the first time since 2019.
However, whilst there are still 38 matches to be played, such optimism has dwindled as a result of Derby's early-season results, performances, injury misfortune and bad news on the ownership front.
And it's fair to say that failing to land Millar's services given his immediate impact at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park will only cause further frustration.
Derby County badge, Ibrahim Osman, West Brom badge
Derby County badge, Ibrahim Osman, West Brom badge
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Derby County failed to land Liam Millar loan swoop ahead of Birmingham City
Liam Millar, Birmingham City
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As previously mentioned, there was hope that Derby would be able to flex their ambitions in the summer window, until an anticipated takeover from Saudi Arabian boxing tycoon, Turki Alalshikh, fell flat.
10 players were still added to Eustace's squad this summer, which included a £10m splurge on permanent deals for Bobby Clark and David Ozoh, but there are some areas within the squad that some would argue are still lacking in depth.
The club failed to land another reunion with Ben Brereton Diaz, who has since returned to another former club, Sheffield United, from Southampton, whilst the aforementioned report claims that Millar also emerged as a late-window target.
Birmingham, though, were able to land the 27-year-old on loan from Hull City just days after he netted the winner for the Tigers against Coventry City in the Premier League, with Middlesbrough and Stoke City also known to have held a strong interest in the Canadian international.
Liam Millar gave Derby County a major sense of transfer regret by starring at Pride Park
Liam Millar playing for Canada
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Chris Davies later revealed that he'd admired Millar for some time before Birmingham were eventually able to agree a loan switch with Hull, and just two games into his time in the West Midlands, the Canadian gave Eustace a clear reminder of why he would have loved his qualities at Pride Park.
Having previously assisted Carlos Vicente in the 2-1 loss at Norwich City, Millar provided another goal for the Spaniard, as well as Paik Seung-ho as Blues came from behind to win 2-1 in DE24 on September 12th.
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Liam Millar's 2026/27 Championship Stats
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Big Chances Created
Key Passes per Game
Successful Dribbles per Game
Stats as per Sofascore (Correct as of 06/10/26)
The former Preston North End man then went on to score his first Birmingham goal in the 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough last time out, and will be hoping his rich vein of form continues post-international break.
Derby County will look at Birmingham City with envy after transfer situation
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It has also emerged that Patrick Roberts of Birmingham was a summer target for Derby, but a stumbling block arose in the form of the 29-year-old's wages.
As such, Eustace may be looking at developments across the Midlands with a feeling of envy as Birmingham sit on the verge of the early-season play-off places, which is where he had the club three years ago before Knighthead's controversial decision to replace him with Wayne Rooney.
Derby fans, would Liam Millar or Patrick Roberts have been ideal additions for John Eustace? Comment below!
However, he will also have to make do with the options he currently has until January, by which point the Rams will hope to have pushed away from the table's lower reaches.