Derby County desperate to make 3 more signings before transfer deadline

Tom Lawrence joined Derby County from Leicester City on August 16, 2017, and has had a fantastic five-year career with the club.

After impressing on loan at Ipswich Town in 2016-17, the Rams would pay over £7 million for the dynamic winger.

Initially, he created a foundation for future campaigns, scoring six goals and assisting eight times in 39 second-tier outings.

The following season, he made substantial contributions, but it wasn’t until 2019-20 that he truly regained his scoring form, scoring 10 goals in 37 games.

As the 2021-22 season approached, off-field financial troubles began to plague the team, but Lawrence remained resilient in the face of adversity. Despite being demoted owing to a points deduction, he captained the team well and demonstrated his talent, finishing the season with 11 goals and five assists.

Lawrence was much appreciated by critics and fans alike that season, but the slide to League One forced him to leave Pride Park. The Rangers were the team who signed him, but injuries have hampered his stay north of the border.

Matej Vydra

While Derby fans should not expect the current owners to spend £8 million on Matej Vydra, as they did in August 2016, a signing of comparable quality would be welcome.

Vydra had always been a threat in the Championship, but his 2017-18 season at Derby elevated him to new heights.

After settling in with the club in 2016-17, he scored a disappointing five goals in 33 games. The following year, he stepped up to star for Gary Rowett, playing slightly behind the striker.

Expectations were sky-high when he signed for a record-breaking sum – and he delivered in spades, scoring an amazing 21 goals in just 40 league games.

His performance away at Middlesbrough, when he scored three goals in a 3-0 win, was particularly impressive.

His goal and assist on the penultimate day were equally crucial, as a 4-1 win over Barnsley secured sixth place and a position in the play-offs.

Unfortunately, the play-offs ended in defeat, with Fulham overcoming a 1-0 deficit from the first leg to secure a place at Wembley.

This was his penultimate game for the Rams, as he was later transferred to Premier League club Burnley for about £11 million, earning Derby a £3 million profit.

Right now, Paul Warne would give anything to have an adversary of this caliber. His current crop falls short of the benchmarks that players such as Vydra and Chris Martin have established in the past.