No matter what Derby County’s fate is, there are bound to be a number of departures this summer.
The Rams are in a fight against relegation, and Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat at Preston North End leaves Wayne Rooney’s men in a perilous position.
Even if Derby stay up, some players need to go. Martyn Waghorn, Curtis Davies and Andre Wisdom are all out of contract this summer, and you can make a case for all three being let go.
Another player out of contract is left back Scott Malone, who has spent the season on loan at Millwall under ex-Rams boss Gary Rowett.
The 30-year-old cost Derby £2.7million in the summer of 2018 as the Rams raided Huddersfield Town to sign the left back.
Malone is in his second spell with Millwall now, and appears to be enjoying life in South London, notching four goals and one assist in 38 Championship games.
It doesn’t look like Malone will be getting a new deal with Derby, and Rowett has now outlined his plans to sign the left back for nothing this summer.
Rowett has told South London Press that Malone is in talks to stay put with the Lions, but there is no rush just yet.
“Scott is one that we’re still in discussion with. I’ve been quite consistent in that he is one we’d like to keep for longer,” said Rowett. “But no-one is ever really in a massive rush until the summer and until we start looking like we’re coming back for pre-season,” he added.
From a £2.7m outlay to leaving for nothing, Malone may not go down as one of the better Derby signings in recent times.