The new Championship season kicks off in just a few weeks, and Derby County fans have plenty to be excited about as the team returns to the second tier.

Paul Warne’s side will travel to Ewood Park for their first game against Blackburn, starting what promises to be a fascinating campaign. With anticipation building, Derby aims to maintain the momentum from last season’s successful promotion to stabilize in the Championship, continuing the club’s plan under owner David Clowes.

Head coach Paul Warne has a month left to finalize his squad, having already signed Kenzo Goudmijn, Ebou Adams, Kayden Jackson, Jerry Yates, and Ben Osborn. However, to complete his dream window, Warne still needs a goalkeeper, at least two midfielders, and a new striker.

Transfers

Derby has made five signings so far but still needs to strengthen the squad, with a goalkeeper being a top priority since Joe Wildsmith left the club at the end of last season.

The club has shown interest in Leicester City’s Daniel Iversen for a season-long loan and had a bid rejected for Jacob Widell Zetterstrom of Djurgarden. Completing either deal will require compromises on wages with Leicester or a lower transfer fee from Djurgarden. Signing one of these goalkeepers would be crucial, given Josh Vickers is the only experienced goalkeeper on the roster, and an injury to him would be a significant blow.

In midfield, Derby has been linked with Crystal Palace’s highly-rated David Ozoh. The 19-year-old made 13 appearances last season, impressing in a draw against Manchester City. Ozoh fits Warne’s profile of adding tenacity, pace, and aggression to the midfield. With Adams and Osborn already signed, Ozoh would be an excellent addition if the deal goes through.

Departures

Derby released six players at the end of last season, including Conor Hourihane, Korey Smith, Joe Wildsmith, Martyn Waghorn, Dwight Gayle, and Scott Loach. Louie Sibley also declined a new contract to join one of Derby’s Championship rivals.

The club has no plans to allow key players to leave, but those who might struggle for first-team opportunities could depart. Several League Two clubs are monitoring Dajaune Brown after his loan spell with Gateshead last season. However, Brown joined Derby’s pre-season camp in Spain and will likely continue to feature in their pre-season schedule, with Warne giving him every chance to prove himself.

Derby successfully fended off Premier League interest in Eiran Cashin last season, with the defender signing a new contract that ended speculation over his future. Cashin’s retention was crucial, given his importance to the club’s promotion push last season.