Derby County transfer state of play as Rams face critical deadline day
Derby County transfer state of play as Rams face critical deadline day
In what is set to be a frantic deadline day as the rest of the Championship scramble for last-minute signings,
you sense what happens over the next 15 hours will be absolutely critical to Derby County’s ambitions.
Amid a chorus of discontent that erupted after Saturday’s defeat to Sheffield United,
Derby find themselves in the bottom three and two points adrift of safety.
A seventh straight league defeat has sparked understandable concern about this season’s direction,
but given the number of points left to play for, the situation can easily be salvaged.
Drastic improvement is needed and fast and while injuries to several key players have not helped,
they can not be used as an excuse as Paul Warne admitted when he faced further questions over his
future at the weekend.
They are in desperate need of further reinforcements before the 11pm deadline and
Warne certainly needs a couple of rabbits to be pulled out of the hat.
Derby’s primary focus on this deadline day will be adding to their midfield and attack.
Players who can create and score goals, which have dried up of late, particularly at Pride Park.
But they will have to ensure they are players of significant technical prowess in a team that has plenty of
graft but precious little craft in key areas.
There has been an increasing desire to see Derby play through the middle of the pitch which is all well and good,
but aside from Kenzo Goudmijn, there is a distinct lack of creative passers and
those who can dictate a game from the centre of midfield.
Ebou Adams perhaps encapsulated Derby’s problems when he saw a pass fly out for a goal kick when Kayden Jackson had made a great run through Sheffield United’s defence.
They cannot just rely on Goudmijn to be able to lockpick a tight defence from the middle of the pitch.
Adding midfielders who can take advantage of such opportunities is, therefore, high on the priority list,
while Warne is desperate to add a winger who carries pace and is a genuine goal threat.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s withering form has heightened that need,
while Corey Blackett-Taylor’s durability remains a problem that Derby just don’t need.
Jackson, while high on work rate, is not really blessed with the kind of bewitching one-on-one
domination that you usually expect from a wide player.
Warne said at the weekend, he wants players capable of scoring a goal out of nothing and there are not many,
if any, players currently in the squad who possess that kind of ability.
But finding such magic will cost a pretty penny.
Derby are willing to do everything they can to ensure they leave this window stronger than they started it,
and the arrival of Sondre Langas from Viking FK underlined their financial commitment.
That has boxed off the centre of defence and, after shelling out around £4m for his signature,
he is considered one of Norway’s hottest properties.
With Nat Phillips due to return to training this week,
and following a very shrewd and cheap move for Matt Clarke from Middlesbrough that was a nominal
six-figure sum and cost the club far less than some reported figures,
Derby look very strong in the heart of their defence.
But it is essential for them to add the same quality to the midfield and
their attack which would provide a welcome shot in the arm. Crucially,
there is also has one loan spot left to fill and it will be interesting to see how that is taken up.
The club is open to Premier League loans,
and players will be made available on the day as the top-flight clubs make the final decisions on their squads.
Derby will also continue to look at the European market in what is set to be a gripping and crucial finale to the window.
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