Derby County look increasingly unlikely to sign a striker before tonight’s deadline.
Derby County have done well to bolster their attack with the loan arrival of Corey Blackett-Taylor, however Paul Warne has made it clear that he wishes to bring in a new striker.
Speaking to the Rams Daily podcast at the weekend, the manager said: “I think it’s evident that you can’t play James, bless him, 90 minutes every single game, and even more so if there’s only one up top. So I do want another striker and potentially if I lose one – and I could lose one – then one or two.”
So, as a result, Derby had made an attempt to first sign Michael Smith of Sheffield Wednesday.
The Rams looked likely to complete a deal until realising The Owls’ demands were too high, before turning their attention to his teammate Lee Gregory.
The 35-year-old is completely out of Danny Rohl’s plans at Hillsborough, having played for only one minute in Sheffield Wednesday’s last 18 games in all competitions.
Reports today claimed The Rams were making ‘one last push’ to sign Gregory, though Sheffield Wednesday clearly didn’t want to play fair and would prefer to pay his £8k-per-week wages while he sits in the stands.
BBC Sheffield journalist Rob Staton has now provided an update on X, saying: “Understand we can rule out a Derby move for Lee Gregory.”
Wrap James Collins up in cotton wool
With Sheffield Wednesday keeping hold of Michael Smith and already bringing in Ike Ugbo, it seems very unfair that they won’t allow Lee Gregory to leave the club.
The veteran has fallen dramatically down the pecking order and certainly won’t be playing any first team football, while Derby County are left to heavily rely on James Collins once again.
The Rams will be in danger of slipping down the table if Collins is to get injured, given that Martyn Waghorn and Conor Washington are already on the sidelines.