‘Critical month’ – Outstanding Derby County players who could be destined for January exit
‘Critical month’ – Outstanding Derby County players who could be destined for January exit
Latest Derby County news from DerbyshireLive as Leigh Curtis looks at the members of Paul Warne’s squad who could be surplus to requirements next month
Paul Warne is aiming to add to his Derby County squad next month when the January transfer window opens for business.
Adding more firepower to the Rams attack is high on the list of priorities at Pride Park as the club aims for a strong second half to the season. But before there can be incomings, there needs to be outgoings as Derby are currently at their 25-man squad limit.
There are several players who are contenders for a January exit given their lack of first-team football this season. Leigh Curtis looks at the contenders who could either seal permanent or loan exits come the New Year…
Conor Washington
The striker has not made a Championship appearance this season and his chances of forcing himself into the reckoning appear slim.
Warne said last week that he would not be surprised if the striker wanted to move on in January and he is due to hold talks with Washington, has made 21 appearances since signing from Rotherham last summer.
“I’ve had really honest conversations with Conor and just said, ‘Look, you will have to wait for an opportunity’. Come January, if he has had no opportunities, and I know how the world works, he may want to play elsewhere. He hasn’t said that, but I would say the same, by the way, as a player. If I knew my options were limited, I would want to go play somewhere else.
“When you get older, you become more impatient. You don’t want to waste anything, but if it is the right thing for the club that he stays, then that’s the decision we will make.
“As with all my players, I like to think I have 100 per cent respect both ways. We will have a chat about it and come to a decision.”
Sonny Bradley
The centre-back has made just five appearances for Derby this season with his last outing coming as a substitute in the 2-1 win at Coventry.
With Curtis Nelson and Eiran Cashin cementing their place in the starting XI, and Nat Phillips on loan from Liverpool, the defender’s chances of first-team football are limited.
He was not on the bench for the defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend and the 33-year-old, who is in the last year of his contract, would no doubt have suitors should he be made available for transfer.
Tawanda Chirewa
The midfielder has been on loan from Wolves but an injury has prevented him from competing for a first-team place.
He has only featured twice since his move from Molineux after signing a season-long loan from the Premier League side.
Injuries have not helped his cause but he has been back in training and played for the under-21s against Chelsea last week which ended in a 6-2 defeat.
The Zimbabwe international faces a critical month in terms of forcing himself into the reckoning. If not, then it’s a loan move that both Wolves and Derby might agree just isn’t working out. Should that scenario occur, it will at least free up a loan spot.
Jake Rooney
The defender has had rotten luck in terms of injury having needed surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament last season after falling awkwardly in the defeat to Bolton Wanderers.
He then did brilliantly to get himself back fit for pre-season but another knee problem derailed his attempts to be part of the squad this season.
Rooney has been back for a few weeks now and has been playing for the under-21s to work on his fitness. Warne said last week could not rule out a loan move for the ex-Burnley defender to give him competitive first-team minutes.
“I need to have a conversation with Jake and every option is open to him to discuss with me,” said Warne. “We will talk to him collectively with his representative and see what is best. I feel for him because he got back from his first injury in good nick, but as it stands now, he is obviously a long way down the pecking order.
“What I don’t want for him is to stagnate and go backwards in the next three or four months. If there is a chance for him to get back into the first team and play then I would presume would be his choice.
“But if, realistically, that is difficult and not as quick as he would like then you have to investigate loans. We will have a chat but it’s constant monitoring. What you think today and what you think next week are two different things.
“One day he might feel a loan move is best for minutes and I respect that. But we could have two or three injuries, and he might then think things are a bit more rosy. We are going to sit down and have a proper chat.”
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