Derby County have completed the signing of Sam Szmodics from Ipswich Town as he became their fourth signing of the summer.

The attacker has returned to Pride Park on a season-long loan deal with an obligation to buy as the formalities of the move were completed. It is understood the obligation to buy is around £2.7m which is based on appearances.

Head coach John Eustace had been eager for Szmodics to return to Derby after he spent the second half of last season on loan from Portman Road, scoring three goals in 13 appearances.

The forward could be given a run out this weekend as Derby face Burton Albion on Saturday.

After Ipswich returned to the Premier League, Szmodics has been deemed surplus to requirements although he does have two years remaining on his deal.

A loan move looks a good piece of business as Derby hope that Eustace and Szmodics can rekindle the partnership that saw the latter score more than 30 goals under the Rams chief when they were at Blackburn together.

The news comes after it emerged that Saudi billionaire and boxing mogul Turki Alalshikh stands on the verge of investing significant money into the Championship club.

Alalshikh is understood to have passed the relevant Football League checks with the deal now waiting to be signed off by the Independent Football Regulator amid growing confidence that will take place in the next few days.

The terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed but it is thought that owner David Clowes, who has been open to investment, will remain as chairman.

Alalshikh's reported net worth stands around £2.8bn which would put Derby among the richest clubs in the Championship and will arm them with significant spending power as they plot a return to the Premier League.

They will still be restricted by SCR rules which state that clubs can only spend 85 per cent of their revenue although owners are allowed to invest £33m across three seasons.

But Alalshikh's involvement, and the way he has dramatically altered the landscape of boxing, will give Derby the chance of lucrative sponsorship deals and raise their profile, in the Middle East and the UK.

Derby's work in the transfer market will certainly gather momentum over the next few weeks with a striker, wingers and central midfielders all on their wishlist as they look to mount a promotion push to the Premier League.