4 things Derby County must do in the summer transfer window after embargo issue

The transfer embargo that was placed on Derby County whilst the club was in administration has been lifted. This means that Paul Warne is cleared to bring in players to try to get the Rams promoted next season. This is what we think he should look to do.

Bring in a first team striker

The Rams were blessed to have David McGoldrick scoring from left, right and centre last season. He finished the League One season with 22 goals. However, when looking at the rest of the team, especially late on in the season, they were less prolific.

McGoldrick scored six out of Derby’s last eight goals in the season (the other two coming from James Collins). This is a worrying statistic for a team that was aiming to make the playoff positions.

Paul Warne should look to bring in a striker in their prime that can cooperate with McGoldrick (assuming he returns) next season and provide another goal contributor to Derby’s attack.

Sort out the squad age

The Rams had a very unusual squad last season. They had no players between the ages of 22 and 27, which means they had no players in their typical ‘prime’ years.

Youth is good because of high energy levels and desire to develop and make the first team and so is experience in the veterans. However, Derby lacked a mix of these two qualities from players in their prime.

A good move for Paul Warne would be to sign at least one defender, midfielder and attacker in their prime to provide a stronger spine to the Rams’ first team.

Teams such as Plymouth who won League One last season had a team full of ‘prime’ players, it could be crucial to Derby’s promotion hopes next year.

Sign two wing-backs to suit Warne’s playing style

Paul Warne has always had a system that he likes to play. This involves three at the back and two wing backs further up the field.

This season, he tried to play a number of Derby’s players in that wing back position when it was clearly not suited to them. Players such as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Tom Barkhuizen really struggled to play out of their natural position.

If Warne is to be successful at Derby, he needs players that will fit into his system and therefore he should look to bring in a couple of wing backs that can play how he wants them to. If he can get the Rams playing how he wants, they have a great chance at promotion because Warne’s record in League One is impressive.

Build up squad depth

Derby County were held back last summer due to the transfer embargo that the EFL placed on the team. This meant that the Rams couldn’t easily sign players which meant the team had an extremely small squad last season.

As a season progresses, players get injured, fatigued and sometimes lose form. It's vital to have plenty

of options on the bench and in the reserves. The Rams lacked in this last season which led to many players looking exhausted towards the end of the year because they didn’t have a chance to rest and recover.

A very simple one, but Derby just need to sign more players!

Sign a first team centre back

After a disappointing end to his fantastic Derby career, Curtis Davies has left the club alongside Richard Stearman and James Chester.

This leaves the Rams very thin at centre back with a manager who wants to play three at the back. Paul Warne will need to bring in a solid, first team centre back that can play consistently alongside young player of the season Eiran Cashin.

If he gets this right, a partnership between the two could provide the Rams with some real stability at the back whilst they fight for promotion.

Derby have been rumoured to be interested in players such as Aden Flint and Bailey Wright at the position. See more of Derby’s rumoured signings here.