With the step up to the Championship bringing an obvious harder challenge for Derby County next term, improvements as well as reinforcements are needed within the squad.
Going up as the second placed team there is plenty of hope within the fanbase for the forthcoming season and rightly so given their performances in the third tier. After two seasons in League One, they’re now back where many pundits believe they belong and Paul Warne will be looking to re-establish the club as a Championship mainstay.
In order for them to do just that, they will need to improve some positions within the squad. That’s not to say that the current players are not capable of the step up in class, but moreso down to the fact that the Rams will want to be more than just making up the numbers next season.
It is yet to be revealed what the club’s goal is next term but there’s no reason as to why they cannot target a top-half finish in what looks to be a fairly wide-open Championship renewal.
They are however yet to get the ball rolling with no new names announced to be joining the club. Although the transfer window isn’t officially open yet, plenty of other sides have been active with their recruitment and securing early deals.
Derby have been rumoured with one or two names, but are yet to push the button and agree terms with any free agents. It looks as if they’re set to miss out on another target, with the Football Insider reporting that Coventry City and Hull City are the two sides who currently lead the race to sign Sheffield Wednesday’s Josh Windass.
The midfielder is set to hit the free agent market with a new deal with the Owls yet to be agreed. Making 25 Championship appearances after struggling with injuries at times this season, Windass would still put up an admirable six goals and two assists.
It was reported by The Star in May that Derby had displayed an interest in the 30-year-old but it now seems as if they lost ground in the race for his signature.
With proven Championship experience, Windass would be a decent signing for the Rams, but the signingwould come with some risks attached. Although they may miss out here, expect Paul Warne to be in the market for a couple of playmakers this summer.
Writer’s View
Derby look to have a pretty decent chance of establishing themself in the Championship if things fall into place this summer, yet they must be smart with their recruitment for that to happen.
Josh Windass possesses plenty of qualities that you’d want from an attacking midfielder in the Championship but his injury record is somewhat of a concern. It would could be considered a risky signing for a newly-promoted team and as a result its perhaps a good thing that Derby look set to miss out.
He is however quite the asset if able to stay fit and could excel for one of Hull or Coventry if he is to make a move this summer.
Senior Editor
