Derby County are still in the market for at least one more player before the window slams shut at 11pm tonight.
The Rams have so far endured a relatively quiet window with only two players through the door.
Corey Blackett-Taylor was captured on a loan deal from Charlton Athletic that will become permanent in the summer while Ebou Adams was loaned in from Cardiff City.
Those acquisitions fixed two issues for the Rams. Blackett-Taylor provides quality depth down the flank having scored eight goals and supplied seven assists for the Addicks this term.
Adams, meanwhile, offers added strength and tenacity to a midfield that was seriously lacking on that front.
Yet, Paul Warne still isn’t satisfied as the main position he wanted to strengthen in this transfer window still hasn’t been resolved.
Derby County are still ‘chasing’ a striker
Derby are limited to the business they can do in the market given the rules they agreed with the EFL and this has made signing a striker so difficult.
While other clubs can flex their financial muscles, the Rams can only realistically target loan players.
Warne made signing Michael Smith from Sheffield Wednesday his priority, but the Owls are demanding an excessive loan fee despite agreeing to pay a significant wage contribution.
After failing in their pursuit of Smith, unless Wednesday make a significant U-turn, it would be easy for Derby to give up hope, however, journalist Leigh Curtis has said they are ‘still chasing’ a striker before the 11pm deadline.
He wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Right just under 11 hours to go of this charade and then it can be put to bed until the summer. You’ll know from this cheery tone how much I absolutely love deadline day. Derby still chasing a striker.”
Who could Derby sign before the deadline?
In a desperate attempt to provide competition for top scorer James Collins, Derby are said to be making ‘one last push’ for Wednesday striker Lee Gregory.
The 35-year-old spent a brief spell at Pride Park towards the end of the 2020/21 campaign, scoring three goals in 11 appearances to help keep them in the Championship.
Initially, Derby didn’t seem to get very far with their negotiations, but with time running out, it appears they are doing everything they can to get Gregory through the door.
Although it wouldn’t be the most exciting signing, especially given his age, Derby need to sign a striker.
It’s a position that has plagued them all season and while Collins has been magnificent with 18 goals in all competitions, an injury to him could be detrimental to their promotion chances.