Derby County are set to reestablish themselves in the Championship for the 2024/25 season after their promotion from League One last year.
The Rams earned their promotion by finishing second in the third tier with 92 points and are making their return to the Championship under manager Paul Warne after a two-year absence.
This summer, Warne has seen several key players from the promotion-winning squad depart. Club captain Conor Hourihane, Dwight Gayle, Scott Loach, Korey Smith, Martyn Waghorn, and Joe Wildsmith all left Pride Park when their contracts expired in early July. Additionally, Louie Sibley chose not to accept a new contract and moved to Oxford United, another newly promoted Championship side.
On a positive note, James Collins, Tom Barkhuizen, Craig Forsyth, and Liam Thompson have all signed extensions to stay with the club for another year. Darren Robinson has also committed to a new two-year contract, indicating Warne’s clear vision for the squad he wants.
In response to these departures, Derby have been active in the transfer market. They’ve brought in Jerry Yates and David Ozoh on loan from Swansea City and Crystal Palace, respectively. Ebou Adams has made his loan move from Cardiff City permanent for a reported initial fee of £500,000, and AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kenzo Goudmijn has joined the Rams for an estimated £690,000. Additionally, Ben Osborn, Corey Blackett-Taylor, and Kayden Jackson have been acquired on free transfers from Sheffield United, Charlton Athletic, and Ipswich Town.
Warne is clearly assembling a squad he believes will be competitive in the Championship, and it’s likely that there will be further movements in the transfer market as the Rams approach their opening match against Blackburn Rovers on August 9.
Derby could be in for a tough campaign
Derby County have experienced a mixed bag of results in their pre-season fixtures leading up to the new season. Although the results of friendly matches aren’t the most crucial, they have certainly provided manager Paul Warne with insights into the current strengths and weaknesses of his squad.
The Rams began their pre-season with a comfortable 3-0 victory over non-league Matlock Town and a 1-0 win against League One’s Stockport County. However, they faced setbacks with a 4-0 defeat to Chesterfield and a 4-3 loss to Barnsley before securing a 2-1 win against Real Valladolid.
As Derby prepares for their return to the Championship, expectations are mixed. There’s hope for a successful campaign, but many anticipate challenges. To gain further insight, we spoke with Football League World’s resident Rams fan pundit, Shaun Woodward, to get his perspective on how Derby might fare in the 2024/25 season.
Shaun Woodward shared his concerns about Derby County’s prospects for the upcoming season with Football League World, expressing a cautious outlook due to the current squad’s gaps.
He noted, “To be honest, without a new goalkeeper and striker, I think we’re going to struggle quite a bit. Our transfer window has been decent, but without those two key additions, I’d rate it around a six out of ten.”
Woodward predicts Derby might finish between 16th and 20th place, which he would consider acceptable for this season. He acknowledged that while expectations are usually high, given Derby’s history of challenging for the play-offs, this season requires a more realistic approach.
“After spending last season in League One and facing a tighter budget compared to some other clubs, I’d be pleased with survival this year. If we can manage mid-table, that would be fantastic, but realistically, I think we’ll finish in the lower half.”
In summary, Woodward’s priority is ensuring Derby remains in the Championship, with hopes for better performance in the following season.
Warne needs more new additions
Despite overseeing significant changes to his squad this summer, Rams boss Paul Warne is keen to bring in additional reinforcements before the transfer window closes on August 30.
One pressing issue is the goalkeeping position, with Joe Wildsmith and Scott Loach having departed earlier in the summer. Currently, Josh Vickers is the only senior goalkeeper on the roster, which raises concerns due to his limited experience in the Championship and his previous role as a backup in League One. A new, more experienced number one is essential.
Derby have been linked with several goalkeepers, including Daniel Iversen and Mat Ryan. Additionally, a move for Djurgardens’ Jacob Widdell Zetterstrom appeared imminent following a medical last week. However, the Swedish keeper has expressed uncertainty about the transfer, indicating that Derby might be pursuing other targets.
| Jacob Widell Zetterström’s 2024 season so far | |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 17 |
| Clean sheets | 7 |
| Saves per game | 2.2 |
| Goals conceded | 16 |
| Saves made | 38 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Average rating | 7.03 |
| Stats as per Sofascore (correct as of 05/08/24) | |
Derby County face challenges in both central defense and attacking midfield that need addressing, but the primary concern for manager Paul Warne is finding a new striker, even though the team currently has four forwards.
Warne has acknowledged the necessity to “strengthen the front line” in the coming weeks but doesn’t expect the targeted number nine to be in place before the trip to Ewood Park.
While the current striking options—Jerry Yates, James Collins, Conor Washington, and Kayden Jackson—seem promising on paper, it’s evident that Derby are seeking additional reinforcements as they brace for a challenging 2024/25 season.