The summer transfer window is set to be a busy one for Derby County as they look to improve their team for the campaign ahead.
After winning promotion to the Championship in second position, Paul Warne wants to overhaul his Derby squad in an attempt to remain in the second tier.
Derby waved goodbye to key senior players, including Conor Hourihane, Korey Smith and Joe Wildsmith, with the Rams boss looking at replacements.
Warne reckons he needs nine new players through the door with a particular emphasis on attack as his side finished as the joint-lowest scorers in the League One play-offs.
A mix of injury troubles and a lack of firepower, predominantly relying on Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and James Collins, saw Derby score 78 goals – 11 behind the division’s top scorers Peterborough.
For Derby to stay up in the Championship, they must improve a strike force that consists of Collins and Conor Washington, so with that said, here’s what a dream Derby attack could look like at the end of summer.
Karamoko Dembele to Derby transfer
Karamoko Dembele burst onto the scene as a 13-year-old playing for Celtic’s under-20 side as video footage on social media captured him dancing past players much older than him.
Dembele was touted as the next big thing but unfortunately crumbled under the weight of expectation and has seen his stock decline.
That was until he was sold to Brest in the summer of 2022 and joined Blackpool on loan last term.
The 2003-born winger recaptured his best form and destroyed League One with eight goals and 13 assists as several clubs showed an interest.
Dembele has since been told that he isn’t a part of the plans at Brest and is currently being targeted by Derby alongside Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday.
The “special” 21-year-old would slot perfectly into the position on the right flank if Warne reverts to a 4-3-3 system.
Derby chase Josh Windass deal
Derby County were linked with a move for Sheffield Wednesday striker Josh Windass at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
The 30-year-old is now out of contract at Hillsborough after reportedly rejecting a new deal.
Going into the new season, Derby are very light in attack following the departures of Dwight Gayle and Martyn Waghorn, therefore a move for Windass could be a smart piece of business.
The Hull-born attacker tallied eight goal contributions in the Championship last term despite his injury troubles and helped keep Wednesday in the division with three goals in his final three outings.
Owl’s supporters appear sad that he’s set to leave the club however, their loss would be Derby’s gain.
Windass would add “quality” and the ability to produce heroics in big games, as seen with his play-off final goal against Barnsley. He’s also supremely experienced, tallying 129 appearances in the Championship.
Derby’s dream attacking lineup
So, if Dembele and Windass were to join Derby, how would Warne line up?
Mendez-Laing is a shoo-in to the starting XI having produced an eye-watering 25 goal contributions last term.
To put it simply, without the 32-year-old’s magic, Derby would still be plying their trade in League One next season.
Mendez-Laing occupied a striker role towards the end of the campaign, however, his best position is arguably cutting in from the left flank. Warne switching back to a 4-3-3 formation would allow him to do that.
That leaves Dembele battling with January signing Corey Blackett-Taylor for a spot on the right, a battle he’s destined to come out on top of thanks to his heroics for Blackpool last term.
Meanwhile, the striker position is far from clear cut as Windass is tussling with Washington and Collins for a starting spot.
Windass perhaps just edges it given his heroics for Wednesday last season, though a case can be made for Derby’s top scorer to start.
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