Derby County should be pleased with their summer transfer business but Paul Warne’s failure in one area could cost the Rams.
The Rams secured a return to the Championship in 2023/24 following a two-year hiatus.
Paul Warne has since strengthened his first-team squad heavily over the last several months.
Summer additions Jerry Yates, Kayden Jackson and Ebou Adams have been tipped to be key players for Derby in the 2024/25 season.
Ben Osborn has been praised heavily since he completed a free transfer to Pride Park over the summer as well.
And after four Championship fixtures, the Derbyshire outfit’s new-look squad has fared well so far.
The Rams have picked up two wins and lost two this term, leaving them 10th in the Championship table ahead of their meeting with 24th-place Cardiff City on Saturday.
| Position | Team | PlayedMP | WonW | DrawnD | LostL | ForGF | AgainstGA | DiffGD | PointsPts |
| 8 |  Sheff UtdSheffield Utd | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 9 |  Oxford UnitedOxford United | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| 10 | DerbyDerby | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| 11 |  Stoke CityStoke City | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 6 |
| 12 |  QPRQPR | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 5 |
However, one Warne failure over the summer could come back to cost Derby as the campaign goes on.
- READ MORE: Paul Warne handed blow as ‘excellent’ Derby County player now ruled out of Cardiff City clash
Paul Warne’s summer transfer window failure
After a new goalkeeper, one of Derby’s main priorities in the summer transfer window was to sign a new striker.
Kayden Jackson and Jerry Yates arrived at the club early in the window but Warne still wanted another number nine through the door, especially as the former has primarily been used on the right this term.
A plethora of names were linked with a move to Pride Park but in the end, no deal transpired.
Warne revealed that Derby tried to sign a striker on deadline day but the player’s wages proved to be a sticking point.
Now, this failure to strengthen up front could cost the Rams in their relegation fight if one player does not step up.
Jerry Yates must now step up for Derby County
Somewhat surprisingly, Conor Washington and James Collins remained at the club beyond the August 30th deadline.
However, the latter has scored zero goals in five appearances this season while Washington is yet to feature.
Academy gem Dajaune Brown has stayed put as well despite loan interest last month but he lacks the experience required to play regularly in the Championship.
In turn, Warne will need Yates to step up for Derby until at least the January transfer window.
The 27-year-old is yet to get off the mark since his move from Swansea City, though he was banned for the opening two league fixtures due to a red card he picked up at the end of 2023/24.
Regardless, it is very rare a newly-promoted team are able to survive without a semi-decent goalscorer, and after Warne failed to sign a striker this summer, the pressure is now on Yates to start producing goals on a regular basis.