A ‘fantastic’ player linked to Derby County is currently in a dispute over his contract and Paul Warne must capitalise by bringing him to Pride Park.
Despite just winning promotion to the Championship, Paul Warne has multiple fires to put out at Derby after watching six of his first-team players depart.
The Rams are currently looking for a new No.1 goalkeeper to replace Joe Wildsmith, a completely new midfield and multiple strikers to usurp James Collins and Conor Washington.
Various priorities currently engulf Warne’s mind as he enters the transfer market but one of the most pressing is a new striker.
Derby scored the fewest number of goals from sides that finished in the play-offs as Collins finished on 14 league goals.
Ultimately, scoring goals was an issue that plagued the Rams in League One, so in the Championship, those problems will only be heightened.
Warne will be looking for a talented centre-forward who is experienced in the second tier and knows where the back of the net is, with Sheffield Wednesday striker Josh Windass perhaps ticking both boxes.
Josh Windass’ contract situation at Sheffield Wednesday
Derby were linked with a move for Windass last month, joining the likes of Coventry City and Hull City in showing an interest.
Some reports have suggested Coventry and Hull – two sides aspiring for the play-offs – have pulled away from the chasing pack in negotiations, though the players’ future is still up in the air.
Described as an “important” player to manager Danny Rohl, Windass is currently in talks over a new contract at Hillsborough as it is soon to expire, which is why multiple clubs have been put on red alert.
The 30-year-old scored in Wednesday’s final three matches against Blackburn, West Brom and Sunderland to miraculously keep them in the Championship.
And while Carlton Palmer has raised concerns over his fitness problems and the number of matches he gets through a season, Derby could take advantage of this contract situation by luring him to Pride Park.
Josh Windass would be a steal for Derby County
Although Derby would face huge competition for his signature if he was to leave S6, to steal Windass from a Championship rival would be an immense piece of business.
Windass – who scored seven goals in 28 appearances last term – would fix two major problems for Warne.
Not only is he a Championship-proven striker, but he’s also extremely versatile, capable of cutting in from the left, operating in the 10 or leading the line himself.
Derby have multiple issues to resolve this summer, so to sign someone for nothing – who can play in various positions – would be an excellent piece of business.
Praised by Rohl as “fantastic” for the part he played in their survival, Windass proved he’s a handy weapon to unleash, especially against tired defences.
The Hull-born striker ranked in the top 10% for non-penalty xG, with such output comparing him to Leeds United’s Joel Piroe and Blackburn Rovers goal machine Sammie Szmodics, as per FBref.
Although he’s not on the same level as them ability-wise, he does have the capacity to produce the spectacular, an attribute Warne will crave in their fight for survival.
If the opportunity does arise and Windass decides against a new contract at Hillsborough, he’d be a shrewd signing for Derby to make.
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