Derby County have suffered a rather subdued start to the summer transfer window, although Paul Warne should prioritise a new contract for one of his ‘immense’ talents.
The summer transfer window has been open for nearly a week and although it is claimed Derby have completed their first signing, no names have officially been announced.
That has left supporters clinching onto any hope of an announcement as the Championship is the strongest in years, according to Paul Warne, and he feels the Rams need at least nine new signings.
They’ll have to get a hurry on if they are to make that dream a reality, but first, Warne must prioritise giving one of his key players a new contract at Pride Park.
Derby County must hand Curtis Nelson a new contract
Derby let go of six first-team stars after the 2023/24 League One campaign drew to a close while offering new contracts to Louie Sibley and James Collins.
A month on from that news emerging, it appears the Rams are no closer to agreeing on new deals for two of their key stars unless they’re waiting for the kit announcement next week.
Nonetheless, there is one player who is deserving of improved terms in Derbyshire, and that is defensive titan Curtis Nelson.
Nelson was snapped up on a free transfer last summer following a spell at Blackpool, and he’s proven to be a bargain capture, as the 31-year-old built up an unbreakable partnership with academy graduate Eiran Cashin.
READ MORE: Derby County star Eiran Cashin’s journey from almost released to Premier League transfer interest
The colossal pair kept an impressive 22 clean sheets together and Nelson was rewarded for his dominant displays by claiming the Player of the Year Award.
Lauded as “immense” throughout the 2023/24 campaign, the former Cardiff City deserves a new contract to risk not losing him on a free transfer in 2025.
Derby County’s defensive depth analysed
Nelson’s importance to Warne isn’t just measured by what he brings on the pitch and his partnership with Cashin but he also saves David Clowes money in the transfer window.
The Rams currently have just three senior centre-backs at the club, adding Sonny Bradley to that list, so they can ill-afford to risk losing anyone next summer.
Nelson – who turned 31 at the end of May – is still in the prime years of his career and will be a solid player at Championship level.
He’s nailed on to start next to Cashin in the second-tier however, Warne still needs one or two more defensive players as cover, perhaps thrusting youngster Jake Rooney back into the first-team picture following his injury.
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