Three Derby County players who must now force an exit before Deadline Day this week
Derby County must look at getting rid of the deadwood in their squad before August 30th.
The Rams have made solid progress in the summer transfer window, as they managed to combat what was a long list of players released following the conclusion of the 2023/24 League One campaign.
Derby County will be hoping to add at least two or three more players to their squad before the transfer window comes to its conclusion on August 30th, especially after Paul Warne made it clear earlier on in the window that he was looking for several more signings to add to his squad.
Whilst Warne is correctly looking to add to his squad, as he did most recently with the loan signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Tawanda Chirewa, there must also be some departures sanctioned.
Whilst the squad is not significantly bloated with deadwood, there are a few players that could be moved on for the benefit of the club, as well as for their careers.
Conor Washington
The Derby County striker looks set to be massively out of favour for the 2024/25 Championship season, and he is yet to be handed a single minute of game time so far this campaign.
In terms of strikers, the likes of Kayden Jackson and Jerry Yates, as well as new signing Chirewa are ahead of the Northern Irish international and it would be expected that Conor Washington will be keen to move on in order to get guaranteed game time elsewhere.
Whilst the Rams may not be able to get a hefty fee for the player with one year left on his contract, it would free up more space and wages to potentially bring in extra recruits before the window closes.
James Collins
The other striker on the list is former Ireland international James Collins, who at the age-of-33 looks unlikely to be handed sufficient minutes this season.
He has been handed time on the pitch as a substitute for Derby County, coming on for all three Championship games so far, however with Jerry Yates looking to be added in following his ban, it will be likely that Collins’ game time could deplete.
Like Washington, there probably is not a big fee winging its way to Pride Park for the striker, however a move for Collins would work in both parties favour at this moment.
The most surprising on this list is Derby County shot-stopper Josh Vickers, whose time at the club is likely to be cut short following the signing of Jacob Widell Zetterstrom from Djurgardens.
Whilst Vickers always looked to be back-up goalkeeper for the season, his performance at home to Middlesbrough rightfully so gained him the plaudits, including from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who referred to him as ‘quality’ following his clean sheet.
Vickers was dropped in place of Widell Zetterstrom for the following game as a result of a minor injury, but with it looking unlikely that he will retain the spot as starting goalkeeper, it will be no surprise to see him move elsewhere for game time.
