Derby County have several saleable assets who could depart the club and one of those is Max Bird.
Max Bird is a product of Derby County’s youth academy and is one of many who have risen through the ranks and established themselves in the first team.
At the age of 16, he became Derby’s eighth youngest player of all time after making his debut in the EFL Cup against Barnsley in September 2017.
He then established himself as a first-team regular towards the end of the 2019/20 season as he helped inspire the Rams to a 10th-place finish in the Championship.
From there, he became an important figure for Derby and his career has continued to gather momentum since Paul Warne’s arrival.
The 23-year-old is enjoying his greatest season to date having contributed two goals and five assists, which is already one more than he managed in the whole of last season.
With his career continuing to follow an upward trajectory, Bird has attracted interest from Championship side Hull City, who tried to sign him in the summer.
Liam Rosenior has voiced his desire to sign Bird and his departure could be imminent, either in this window or in summer.
A replacement for one of their star players would be needed, however, and Warne should look at Carlisle United midfielder Owen Moxon to potentially fill that void.
Why Derby County should sign Owen Moxon
Derby supporters won’t want to see the back of their academy graduate, but if he does depart, Moxon is a worthy replacement.
The 26-year-old was the stand-out midfielder in League Two as he helped drive Carlisle towards promotion through his force of creativity from the middle of the park.
Moxon supplied an eye-watering 16 assists last term, including one in the play-off semi final second leg as the Cumbrians turned around a 1-0 deficit from the first leg to win 3-1 in extra time.
As a result, former QPR and Nottingham Forest star Jamie Mackie waxed lyrical about his performance.
He said: “I think he shows real quality.
“Sometimes when you’re labelled a set-piece specialist, because he’s had so much joy from that, you can miss out on what he’s actually like in the middle of the game.
“I think he controls the tempo for them. He’s a very good footballer.
“Whatever happens to them this season I think he’s got plenty of suitors in leagues above, that’s for sure.”
With Carlisle currently fighting six points adrift of safety in League One, Moxon most definitely will depart in the summer.
Derby should be putting the midfield maestro near the top of their list of targets.
He boasts the threat from set-pieces, his passing range is brilliant and he has an eye for goal.
As a midfielder, he ticks most boxes and Warne should consider signing him as a replacement for Bird – if he leaves.