The January transfer window begins in less than a month, allowing Paul Warne to make changes to Derby County’s team.
There is plenty of room for business as Derby aim to avoid being pulled into trouble at the bottom of the Championship, and it promises to be an exciting start to the year.
Derby had a busy summer in terms of signing players, but it is unavoidable that they will try to reorganize the team as they strive for a good finish to the second half of the season.
Here DerbyshireLive takes a look at what might be in Warne’s in-tray ahead of the market opening for business….
Solving the striker issue
It feels like we’ve been saying this in every window under Paul Warne’s tenure, but the need for a striker has never been more apparent.
Some fans believe the search for a forward in peak form goes beyond Warne’s stint as head coach, but a striker must be a priority. The club’s recruitment team, led by the Sporting Intelligence unit, is well aware that this issue requires attention. While everyone is on the same page in Pride Park’s power corridors, the January window is notoriously tricky to navigate.
Prices rise since it is the middle of the season, and you may recall that in Warne’s first season in command, a deal for Jordan Hugill was in the works until Rotherham came along and offered ludicrous money to help them battle relegation.
The reality is that the pool of players available in the New Year is nowhere like as huge as it would be during the summer, but Derby is looking into all options, including the European market. While Derby have scored more goals this season than all but one Championship team below them, there is a widespread perception, particularly among supporters, that bringing in a striker with second-tier experience will not only boost their points total but also relieve some of Jerry Yates’ burden.
Derby would back Warne in the market again, as long as the transactions make financial sense, and the head coach stated earlier this season that he preferred a mobile targetman. Ali Al-Hamadi would be a fantastic signing, but Ipswich’s willingness to part ways remains doubtful. If they were, Derby would look into making it happen, given Warne’s long-standing admiration for the striker, which dates back to his time at Wimbledon.
However, considering Derby’s already limited 25-man squad, outgoings will be necessary in order to bring in new players. Warne has already intimated that there may be departures, particularly among those on the margins of the group. However, finding that striker might mean the difference between a tense finale to the season and a comfortable one.
Departures to be expected
With Derby at their 25-man squad limit, five of whom are on loan, exits will be necessary if they are to make recruits, raising the issue of who could be on their way.
Conor Washington’s future was brought into focus over the weekend as Warne admitted that the forward might want to consider a move, especially because he has yet to make a Championship appearance this season.
Sonny Bradley’s absence from the bench over the weekend was significant, and he may believe that he is better off making a move elsewhere given that he is in the final year of his contract. Joe Ward has not played since the 2-1 defeat against Stoke, when his performance as a right-back was cut short at half-time.
In terms of loans, there is some doubt about Tawanda Chirewa, who has made only two starts since joining on loan from Wolves and could be another candidate to leave. As things are, it’s difficult to envision him breaking into this club, and the Wolves may share that sentiment.
Jake Rooney may be a candidate for a loan transfer away from Derby as he continues to recover from a knee injury suffered in the summer. Warne is set to speak with the defender who has been playing for the under-21s, but competitive first-team games would be beneficial for him, and he would have many of admirers given the promise he has showed since joining the club. You suspect that many honest chats will take place.
Other positions to consider
While the search for a striker will undoubtedly command the headlines, there are arguments for other positions of the squad to be strengthened. The loss of Ryan Nyambe has been a considerable loss given how well he was playing before he damaged his PCL in the draw at 1-1 at Millwall.
Ward is better suited to a wing-back role, leaving Wilson as the only real right-back on the roster, and if he suffers an injury, Derby will be limited on choices given Nyambe’s projected return next year.
There is also room for argument over another center midfielder, however David Ozoh’s impending return will be very appreciated given his absence. On paper, a midfield of Ozoh, Adams, and Goudmijn appears to be the strongest, but Liam Thompson has been outstanding in recent weeks, and Ben Osborn had his greatest game at Derby in a 2-1 loss to Sheffield Wednesday.
But there has been a desire to add more goals to the club, and it was intriguing to hear Warne suggest that this might come from a striker, a winger, or a number eight, indicating that none of those alternatives are off the table. As Warne says, it depends on who is affordable and available, but you get the impression it will be a critical window for the second part of the season.
