Derby County had a busy summer transfer window as Paul Warne sought to prepare his squad for the Championship.
Derby County needed to revamp their team after being promoted from League One last season, and Warne closed the summer window with 11 new recruits. Throughout the preseason, the Rams were expected to struggle in the second tier, with many citing the manager’s previous track record in the Championship as a source of concern.
Regardless of the criticism, the East Midlands club has made a competitive start to life back in the second division, sitting ninth in the table heading into the international break. Their most recent match, a 3-0 victory over Bristol City, offered some encouraging indicators.
Derby County defeated the Robins courtesy to goals from three summer additions, Kenzo Goudmijn, Kayden Jackson, and David Ozoh, while deadline-day loan signings Nat Phillips and Marcus Harness will hope to play a role once action starts.
With the transfer market officially closed, there are a few summer targets who the Rams will be sad not to have signed. Here, we highlight three.
Karamoko Dembele
Derby County were among the clubs associated with talented player Dembele this summer, with reports indicating the Rams made an offer for his services.
The 21-year-old, who was surplus to needs at Ligue 1 club Stade Brestois, had a successful loan spell in the English third tier with Blackpool last season, which drew a lot of attention to his availability.
A number of Championship clubs were keeping an eye on the erstwhile Celtic prospect, but it was QPR who won the competition for his services, as the Hoops secured a season-long loan contract for the teenager, who has already excelled at the MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium.
Warne seems focused on improve his team’s final third throughout the summer, but missing out on a raw and versatile prospect like Dembele might be painful this season.
Ali Al-Hamadi
Derby County fans were crying out for improvement in the striker position, so late hints of a deal for Al-Hamadi were welcomed.
The Rams had previously signed Jackson after he was released by Ipswich Town, and they dug back into the Tractor Boys’ promotion-winning team with the Harness deal on deadline day, though they may regret not being able to sign the Iraq international.
On the final day of the transfer window, BBC Radio Derby announcer Dominic Dietrich informed supporters that a deal for the 22-year-old would not be completed, prompting fans to speculate about the potential of a free agent entering the ranks.
Al-Hamadi remained with Ipswich, but Warne maintained that even a free agent would be impossible owing to his squad’s capacity constraint. Derby will now be hopeful that their ongoing hunt for a striker will be completed in January and that it will not significantly disrupt their campaign until then.
Brendan Wiredu
Wiredu, Fleetwood Town’s captain, was also connected with a number of Championship clubs but ultimately stayed put. Derby County were apparently interested in signing the 24-year-old, but talk faded as the transfer window closed.
The big midfielder, a product of Charlton Athletic’s youth, has been with the Cod Army since 2022 and can play in a variety of defensive positions, including wingback.
Warne frequently rotates between a back three and a back four, so cover at wing-back can be useful. Despite its increasing prominence, the position remains difficult to recruit.
The Rams may struggle on the left side, with experienced defender Craig Forsyth providing the sole challenge for Callum Elder in that position. Neither has a great track record with injuries, so missing out on Wiredu’s adaptability could be a mistake.