Shaun Backs Salvesen Exit as Dcfc Weighs Summer Plans
dcfc still have one game to save their season, but Lars-Jorgen Salvesen is already being written off by a Derby County fan pundit. Shaun said the striker is not good enough for Derby on the pitch and should move on, even with the club one win and some outside results away from the final play-off spot.
Shaun's Verdict On Salvesen
“Salvesen is a very good team player. He's got a good attitude, good work rate, and it looks like he gets on really well with all his teammates. But on the pitch, he's not good enough for Derby, if we're being totally honest.” Shaun’s split assessment leaves little room for doubt: the issue is not effort, but the level Derby need if they want to push higher.
He went further on the club’s squad needs. “I think if we're looking to push on to the next level, then we need to be bringing in players of a bit more quality.” That view puts Salvesen in the middle of a wider squad judgment rather than a one-off criticism of a single performance.
Salvesen's Derby Return
Derby paid around £800k for Salvesen when they signed him from Viking in January 2025, but the return has been modest. He has played less than 500 minutes across 30 league appearances this season and has finished with three goals and two assists.
That output helps explain why his future is being discussed so bluntly. Shaun said Salvesen would probably not make Derby’s bench when injured players return, and added: “So I think for him, the best thing he can do is move on and go and get first-team football elsewhere.”
Derby’s Final-Day Pressure
The timing matters because Derby’s fate is still undecided. They can still sneak into the final play-off spot on the final day, but only if they beat Sheffield United at home and results elsewhere go their way. With one game to go, the club’s summer transfer plans are on hold while they wait to see which direction the season goes.
If Derby do go up to the Premier League, those plans would change significantly. If they do not, Salvesen’s position looks much more exposed, and Shaun’s view suggests Derby may already be thinking about upgrades rather than patience.
