An exciting transfer window awaits Derby County as Paul Warne looks to assemble his dream starting XI. Here’s what it could look like if they land their summer targets.
Derby County are preparing for their first campaign back in the Championship and the challenge that awaits them is daunting.
The quality of the division appears to be stronger every season as last term, Birmingham City were relegated with a mammoth 50 points.
For Paul Warne to accumulate similar to that total of points, the Rams boss has a lot of work to do in the window, claiming he needs to add at least nine players to his senior squad.
Derby are reportedly close on a couple while Alan Nixon revealed they’d wrapped up a deal for an unnamed Premier League loan, although he may start pre-season at his current club.
Derby County’s key transfer targets
Warne is prowling the market for a new goalkeeper to replace Joe Wildsmith, and on Wednesday, links emerged to former Brighton and Arsenal shot-stopper Mathew Ryan.
Ryan is currently at AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie and sees his contract expire this summer, which could open the door for Derby to sign him on a free transfer.
Next on the list of priorities are midfielders to replace the departing Max Bird, Conor Hourihane and Korey Smith.
Ebou Adams is the player they want the most following his fantastic loan spell last term while Brighton’s Marc Leonard, Liverpool’s Bobby Clark and free agent Herbie Kane have all been linked.
Last but not least, Warne needs a proven goalscorer to replace or challenge James Collins and Conor Washington in the starting XI, resulting in links to St Johnstone’s Adama Sidibeh and Sheffield Wednesday’s Josh Windass.
So, with this in mind, here’s how a dream Derby County XI could look heading into the 2024/25 campaign.
Paul Warne’s dream Derby County XI
Mathew Ryan would be a dream replacement for Joe Wildsmith as links suggest Derby are leading the race for his signature. The 81-cap Australia International was excellent during his time at Brighton, making 123 appearances for the Seagulls.
Warne’s defence isn’t expected to change too much and if he switches back to a 4-3-3, Eiran Cashin and Curtis Nelson will form their telepathic partnership in the centre, with Ryan Nyambe at right back and Louie Sibley on the left.
READ MORE: Derby County star Eiran Cashin’s journey from almost released to Premier League transfer interest
Sibley is currently discussing a new contract at Pride Park however, if he leaves, he could easily be replaced by someone like Rio Adebisi.
Warne could line up with a three-man midfield, including tackling machine Adams, “phenomenal” metronome Marc Leonard and Liverpool’s Bobby Clark deployed just ahead.
That would give Derby an abundance of energy, tenacity and technical skill to match most teams in the Championship.
The Rams have recently been linked to highly rated winger Karamoko Dembele, who produced 23 goal contributions for Blackpool last term and is on his way out of French side Brest.
Dembele would take his place on the right with the explosive Nathaniel Mendez-Laing on the left and Josh Windass up top.
Derby have shown an interest in the Wednesday striker and with his contract expiring at the end of this month, Warne could land a bargain for the man who fired the Owls to Championship safety last term.
Derby County (4-3-3): Ryan; Nyambe, Cashin, Nelson, Sibley; Adams, Leonard, Clark; Dembele, Mendez-Laing, Windass.
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