The Rams head coach attended his press conference at Moor Farm as he revealed a transfer demand that is new to him.
The issue with the transfer window is that Derby County operates in a market where demand far outstrips supply. As we enter the final week of the window, a number nine is at the top of Paul Warne’s wanted list, and the club’s head coach anticipated the question during his press conference yesterday.
“Difficult is probably the nicest way to put it,” he stated when discussing the situation at Moor Farm. “There are several phases in the transfer window, and we are currently in the exorbitant, outrageous phase, with everything returning to normal by next week. So, it’s awkward. There are players we want to sign, and every football club has players it cannot afford, and that is the truth.
“We’re doing all we can. We still need to add another midfielder, which I believe is a long way off. We still need to add another defender and something more to the top line. We compete with other clubs in this league for a small number of players.
“What would you do if I told you right now that you could acquire a seven out of ten striker today or a nine out of ten striker, which is a gamble and won’t be available until next week? Once they get in, they’re in. When I say it’s crazy season, I mean it. Fees are piling up, and agents are demanding exorbitant fees since they have all the cards. It’s muddy water out there right now, but we’re doing our best to navigate through it.”
Warne is correct not to rush a decision that is critical to Derby’s chances this season, but given some of the spending other teams are engaging in, he must feel like he’s bringing a water pistol to a gunfight.
Derby are correct to wait it out, especially if no better options are now available. The $64,000 question is, how long do you have to wait? Derby’s dilemma is that strikers are becoming increasingly expensive because to their high demand. Agents are aware of this, and some of the demands are simply absurd, including loan signings.
According to Warne, some agencies are now attempting to get clubs to pay more than the player’s existing weekly salary at his parent club. So, for example, suppose player X earns £8,000 but his agency wants the loan team to pay £12,000 per week. Those demands on a team like Derby are simply ridiculous. Warne said that it was a challenge he’d never encountered before. He was diplomatic about it, but you could tell it irritated him given his convictions.
But, as the search continues, Derby does welcome back Jerry Yates, who served a three-match suspension. That bit of news was overshadowed at Moor Farm amidst all of the transfer excitement. Yates scored nine goals in the Championship last season, and Warne stated, “Jerry was excellent pre-season and will be a real threat if selected.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing him run around. It’s strange; now that his suspension is over, he appears to be a little louder. He appears to be saying hello to me a lot more, so I know he’s available, and it’ll be good to have him back.”
Derby will have to be patient with him, but as Warne notes, he has already demonstrated that he will provide grit to their attack. We saw how well he connected up with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in a win over Barnsley, and that, combined with his goal scoring ability, is why he is here. However, no one should put too much burden on his shoulders, even if the player possesses the confidence that every forward should have.
It remains to be seen whether Warne starts him, and there will also be a decision to make about Jacob Widell Zetterstrom for the game against Watford. He is now available following his move from Djurgarden, and the question of whether to start him at Vicarage Road has dominated the week.
It would be hard on Josh Vickers to lose his place after his heroics against Middlesbrough last weekend, but when you pay a seven-figure amount for a goalkeeper, they don’t usually sit on the bench, right? The supporters are already thrilled to see what he is capable of, but with that expectation comes pressure to succeed, and he will require time to settle in properly, despite making an effect in training.
“He’s been really good, fortunately,” Warne remarked yesterday. “He appeared to be at ease, and we’re also working with him in a team setting, which is critical. My managerial response is that it takes weeks (to integrate into the team) of effort and is non-stop – but honestly, it’s just football; the complexities that you learn over time with any new signing are likely to take longer. So, if it was the final minute of the game, would I want him to play a short goal kick over his six-yard box or a long one?
“I believe most people who hear me speak understand what I want, but Swedish football is different, so there are definitely little bits like that, little parts of management like that, which he will pick up. He’s really brilliant, so it shouldn’t take him long.