"It's a constant battle": Paul Warne's Derby County transfer admission amid early player meetings

Derby County are yet to sign any new players this summer, but the manager is already meeting potential new faces.

Paul Warne has expressed his interest in bringing in new players down the spine of the team - centre midfield, striker, defenders and a goalkeeper.

With a big squad overhaul in need, the Derby boss has began to draw up a list of his preferred signings.

Speaking on TalkSport, he said: “It's just a constant battle to get people in.

“All football fans want to see their club make signings on day one, but that isn't how it is. I've met players that, 'quelle surprise', other clubs want as well.

“The ones that you get early in the window, you either have to have the biggest purse or, possibly, the biggest personality.”

The Derby boss says there are a number of factors that makes signing players early in the window very difficult such as players on holiday.

“You meet players, you try and financially put something together that's competitive.” He said, “They meet other clubs and then everyone seems to go on holiday conveniently when there's a decision to be made.

“For example, a player has now gone to Portugal for two weeks and it's 'Look Paul, nothing's going to happen for the next two weeks, OK?'”

"And in the meantime, I'm constantly reaching out to the player and the agent, so it feels like next week you could sign five players or it might take another three weeks, and that's sort of where we're at.

“I met three players on Monday, and it's just a constant thing. And today on the way down here (to Talksport) I've been texting players, texting my current players.”

It’s clear that the Derby boss is close on a number of names, but no news has come out regarding new signings so far.