Derby County were keen to strengthen their squad in January. The Rams are midtable in the Championship and are the joint second-lowest scorers.
More creativity, pace out wide and a central defender topped priorities.
Derby, however, failed to bring anyone in besides the official arrival of Wayne Rooney who had agreed to join the Rams back in the summer. It wasn’t for a lack of trying.
Here we look at a starting XI of reported targets:
Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Cameron Dawson was linked (The Star). However, the Owls number one signed a new contract at Hillsborough.
Bournemouth Jack Simpson was a centre-back loan target (Sky Sports). He can also play at left-back. Cherries boss Eddie Howe didn’t want to lose him.
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Filip Benkovic was arguably Derby’s main target. The Rams were linked with him all month (Telegraph). The £13 million Leicester defender, however, joined Bristol City on loan.
Mike te Wierik emerged as a late target (fcupdate.nl). The Dutchman’s contract expires in the summer. Derby will likely sign him on a free transfer then.
George Tanner was a likely U23 target (MEN). Manchester United brought him back from his loan spell at Morecombe and sent him to Salford City on loan.
Doncaster Rovers ace Ben Whiteman (Doncaster Free Press) and Coventry City’s Zain Westbrooke (TEAMtalk) were linked with several Championship clubs including Derby.
Kamil Jozwiak emerged as a target (Polstat). A deal looked on too as Lech Poznan reportedly needed money. However, the Polish club instead sold a teammate.
Attacking midfielder Tariq Uwakwe could have rekindled the Derby-Chelsea link (The Sun). A deal, however, failed to materialise as he remained at Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham Hotspur’s £10 million signing Jack Clarke was linked with a dozen clubs after his loan spell from Leeds United was cut short. Queens Park Rangers won the race.
Sam Cosgrove completes the team with Derby and Stoke City linked (Evening Express). The striker who cost Aberdeen £25,000 has hit over 20 goals already this term.
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