Derby County have had a fine start to life back in the Championship under Paul Warne.
The Rams finished 2023/24 second in League One, ending their two-year hiatus from the second tier.
Derby County were expected to struggle upon their return to the Championship, with most viewing them as one of the relegation favourites.
However, after 12 fixtures, Paul Warne’s men are currently sat 12th in the Championship table with four wins, three draws and five defeats to their name.
Derby face Stoke City this weekend and a win over the Potters could move them to within a point of the play-off places if results elsewhere go their way in gameweek 13.
This comes despite the fact the Derbyshire outfit spent less than £5m on players in the 2024 summer transfer window, with the majority of their additions loans or free transfers.
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Derby County January transfer plan
With a small chance of promotion via the play-offs now on the cards, fans may have been hoping to see their club go big in the January window and strengthen their squad to ensure they have the best chance possible of competing for the top-six.
However, Derby County News have now learned of the club’s January transfer plans and they are unlikely to please fans.
Our sources understand that the Derby hierarchy are very happy with their start to the season and are beyond where they expected to be.
As a result, they are not expected to do an awful lot in January because it is a tough window to operate in.
Had Derby been struggling in the league, they would be more likely to do something.
But at present, they will have a look at the fresh loan market and may bring in a player on a short-term deal, though they are not likely to sign anyone permanently.
Instead, the Rams will most likely try to get through to the summer and push harder then, rather than in January.
Derby County loan priority should be clear ahead of January
With the Rams now expected to only look at loans in January, the one position they should target is clear.
Derby wanted to sign a striker in August but their move for a second addition on top of Jerry Yates fell through.
This has left the Swansea City loanee as the only viable number nine option at Pride Park for the first half of 2024/25.
Yates’ off-the-ball work has been solid but he is really struggling on the goal front, netting just one in 10 Championship appearances.
So, if Derby want to try and make a proper push for a top-six finish, they should be looking to loan a striker in January as it is clear Yates will not score enough goals this term.