It has been a busy start to the transfer window so far for Derby County with seven new signings making their way to Pride Park, but there is still one area of the field which is in major need of a revamp.
The surprise exit of top scorer David McGoldrick to boyhood club Notts County has left a massive gap in the Rams’ forward line which urgently needs fixing ahead of the new season.
McGoldrick scored 25 times last season, also registering seven assists, as he picked up the club’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards.
His departure left Derby with just one senior striker amongst their ranks in the form of James Collins, that was before boss Paul Warne ordered a reunion with Conor Washington and signed the striker from Rotherham United on a two-year deal last week.
Despite the addition of Washington, the Rams could still benefit from further additions up top and are likely to add at least one more forward before the start of the season in August.
Here are three striker options that Warne’s men should target:
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Matty Godden
Due to both Collins and Washington being on the wrong side of 30, it is perhaps unwise to suggest the signing of 31-year-old Matty Godden. In this case, however, an exception can be made.
It was reported by Alan Nixon that the Rams hold an interest in the Coventry City man, and if a deal could be struck then he could prove to be a shrewd piece of business for the Rams.
Possessing quality well above the realms of League One, similarly to a few of Derby’s signings already this summer, Godden hit the back of the net eight times and assisted a further four in the Championship last season as the Sky Blues reached the play-off final.
It is fair to say that he would be considered a statement signing.
Jonson Clarke-Harris
Last year’s League One top goal scorer, Jonson Clarke-Harris scored 29 goals in all competitions for Peterborough United last season and has surprisingly been made available for transfer this summer.
The 28-year-old has a proven track record in the third tier having scored 98 goals in 245 appearances at this level.
He may go against the grain of the Rams’ current transfer business with Derby yet to pay a single penny in transfer fees for any of their new arrivals, but Warne’s side are now building somewhat of a transfer kitty following the departures of Krystian Bielik and Jason Knight.
It goes without saying that making a move for Clarke-Harris could well be a gamble that pays off.
Sam Nombe
More of a wildcard than the previous two players on the list, Sam Nombe could be another suitable candidate for the Rams.
The 24-year-old striker scored 15 goals and registered eight assists for Exeter City in League One last season as the newly promoted Grecians finished 14th.
He is a player showing great signs of development following his eight goals and two assists in League Two during the prior campaign, and could be available for a fairly reasonable price.
With Nombe’s contract set to expire next summer, now may be the perfect time to swoop for the talented centre-forward.