Derby County may have confirmed six new signings this summer but pre-season proves why Paul Warne must still target one position in particular.
It’s just under two weeks till Derby County kick off their return to the Championship with a trip to Blackburn Rovers.
Derby boss Paul Warne has been working hard in the transfer window to ready themselves for the difficult challenge of remaining in the second tier.
As a result, he’s ripped up the squad that earned promotion, letting seven first-team players depart while adding six to his squad.
The focus for Warne has been fleshing out his midfield, successfully signing Ebou Adams permanently along with Ben Osborn, Kenzo Goudmijn and David Ozoh on loan, while the Rams have recently shown an interest in Sunderland’s Elliot Embleton.
Derby have also seen a £1.4 million bid for Djurgardens goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom accepted with Djurgarden chief Bosse Andersson confirming that ‘terms have been agreed’.
However, whilst confirming the arrival of a new keeper is important, pre-season has highlighted one glaringly obvious need for Warne.
Derby County must still bolster their forward line
Pre-season form is never usually a barometer for how a side fares once competitive action gets underway.
The Rams have so far beaten Matlock Town and Stockport County but suffered heavy defeats against League Two newcomers Chesterfield and League One outfit Chesterfield.
In their previous three matches, they’ve conceded seven goals but perhaps more alarmingly, have only scored twice against their lower-league opponents.
Again, nothing much can be read into the result as pre-season is all about getting much-needed minutes into the legs however, it does show that Derby still need to sign a new forward or two.
Following promotion from the third tier, where they finished as the joint-lowest scorers in the play-offs, Warne added Ipswich striker Kayden Jackson and Swansea City’s Jerry Yates to his attacking ranks.
Jackson has hardly ever been prolific in the second tier, scoring just six times in 65 appearances, whilst Yates’ best campaign in the Championship came at Blackpool in 2022/23, where he netted 14 goals.
Elsewhere, Warne has veteran options James Collins and Conor Washington, who boast just a total of 45 goals in 256 Championship outings between them.
It therefore emphasises the need for Derby to invest in another striker, who can guarantee goals in the second tier.
- READ MORE: Paul Warne already left blown away by ‘pretty phenomenal’ Derby County player in pre-season
The importance of Derby signing a new striker
To remain in the Championship next season, a strong defence won’t be enough and Derby must be ruthless in attack.
Their current striking options have never been the most prolific in front of goal and unless they hit a purple patch of form, they could struggle to fire the goals Warne needs.
Take Plymouth Argyle as an example. The Pilgrims stayed in the Championship as they relied on the brilliance of Morgan Whittaker and poacher Ryan Hardie, who scored 31 goals between them in the league.
For a side battling relegation, Plymouth were capable at the top end of the pitch and that is where Derby currently lack.
Warne must therefore use their misfortune in pre-season as a sign to target a new striker, with the Rams boss expecting three new players to sign before they play Blackburn.