Derby County still have some work to do in the transfer market if Paul Warne is to be satisfied.
The Rams have returned to the Championship after a two-year hiatus and are expected to be in the relegation battle come May.
Derby County did not get their 2024/25 campaign off to a great starting, losing 4-2 vs Blackburn Rovers at Pride Park on the opening day.
They bounced back in midweek as Derby beat Chesterfield 2-1 in the League Cup, but Paul Cook’s men were much weaker opposition than the caliber of teams they will take on in the league this term.
Derby face Middlesbrough in their next Championship fixture, going into that tie as the heavy underdogs.
Michael Carrick’s men have put their early-season struggles behind them, already picking up wins over Swansea City and Leeds United.
At present, the Derbyshire outfit’s squad remains somewhat short of ready to compete with the likes of Boro, but there are still just over two weeks of the transfer window left for that to change.
Paul Warne sends message to Derby County owners
The newly-promoted team have so far brought eight new faces through the door at Pride Park this summer.
That number will increase to nine shortly when Jacob Widell Zetterstrom joins Derby this week after playing his final game for his current club on August 15th.
As well as a plethora of new names joining the club, the Rams have allowed eight players to depart over the last few months.
The latest exit saw Derby loan Tyrese Fornah to Salford City for the 2024/25 campaign.
After Fornah’s departure, Warne, speaking to BBC Sport, has been discussing his plans to sign a new central midfielder, revealing he will be hugely disappointed if a deal is not done.
He said: “I signed three midfielders who are in front of him [Fornah] also Tomo [Liam Thompson], and then he knows I’m going to sign someone else.
“And not many people sign players below what they’ve currently got so I understand why Tyrese is gone and like I said, he goes with my blessing.
“It was always happening. I was always going to sign another midfielder. It was never a problem so that was always happening and if I do that means I’ve got six really good midfielders and I play with three so I don’t need seven.
“If I didn’t sign another midfielder, look, I’d be hugely disappointed but it is what it is.”
Why Derby must sign another midfielder
The bulk of Derby’s summer transfer business has centered around improving their midfield.
Louie Sibley, Korey Smith, Conor Hourihane, and the aforementioned Fornah have all moved on.
They have since been replaced by Ebou Adams, Kenzo Goudmijn, Ben Osborn, and David Ozoh.
Four in and four out may suggest that Warne’s midfield department remains well-stocked, but that is not the case.
After Fornah left, Derby will now go into their clash this weekend with just five natural central midfielders.
As Warne plays a 4-3-3 formation, that is not enough bodies to provide cover across a full Championship season.
Players will need to be rested and injuries happen, meaning there may come a point in 2024/25 when Derby do not have three fulyl-fit, senior central midfielders.
In turn, it is imperative Warne gets his wish and Clowes sign another midfielder for him this summer.
Derby are not currently being strongly linked with any players in this position but there is plenty of time for a new arrival to come in this month.