Derby County are yet to pay a single penny in transfer fees for any of their seven summer additions so far.
Joe Ward, Josh Vickers, Callum Elder, Curtis Nelson, Sonny Bradley, Conor Washington and Kane Wilson have all signed permanently for the Rams and there are no signs of Paul Warne being done with his transfer business just yet.
Last season’s loan signings were somewhat of a mixed bag for Derby, with very few making a particularly lasting impression.
William Osula was loaned in from Sheffield United during Liam Rosenior’s reign as boss. He seemed to be a natural threat in his limited appearances for the club and managed to score five goals, also providing an assist, in his 21 matches for the Rams, but returned to his parent club earlier than expected.
Haydon Roberts was the most successful of the bunch. He developed excellently over the course of the season and many supporters had hoped he would sign permanently following his release from Brighton & Hove Albion, but he instead signed for Bristol City.
Joseph Anang, Lewis Dobbin, Harvey White, Luke McGee and Tony Springett were the other loanees, but not too much can be said for their impact at the club with Anang and McGee both failing to make an appearance.
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With that being said, Derby may opt to delve into the loan market again this season. Below is a list of three Premier League youngsters that the Rams should look into.
Yegor Yarmolyuk
Brentford signed Yegor Yarmolyuk for their reserve team from SK Dnipro-1 last season.
He has played once for the Bees’ first team since his arrival, featuring for 18 minutes in a Carabao Cup encounter with Gillingham.
The attacking midfielder was a regular for Dnipro in the Ukraine top flight before he made the switch to London, but has not been able to force himself into the first team frame at Brentford.
Derby are in need of a replacement for Jason Knight, and 19-year-old Yarmolyuk is in need of regular playing time, so a loan deal could work out well for all parties.
Luke Plange
Derby fans will know Luke Plange all too well.
Crystal Palace signed Plange from the Rams last summer, but he was unable to make an impact in his first season with the Eagles so was subsequently sent on loan to RWD Molenbeek and later Lincoln City.
The best form of his career so far has come wearing a Derby shirt, so a return to his former club could help regain his confidence in front of goal.
Warne needs another striker amongst his ranks. Plange could fit the bill.
Malcolm Ebiowei
Another talent that left the Rams for Palace last summer, Malcolm Ebiowei desperately needs regular playing time.
Described by the Eagles’ chairman Steve Parish as ‘highly coveted‘, the youngster excelled in his breakthrough season with Derby, and a year on from his move he is yet to have scored a senior goal for any other club.
Ebiowei made his Premier League debut for the Palace, but could not hold down a spot in the first team so joined Hull City on loan in the second half of last season.
Another raw talent that needs to regain confidence, a Rams return for the winger could do both him and the club wonders.