For the next six weeks or so, Paul Warne anticipates that there won’t be any updates on Derby County transfers while he is ready to decide the futures of several senior players in his promoted side. After a two-year hiatus, Derby is gearing up to return to the Championship, and Warne is willing to be brutal in his evaluation of his players’ futures.
As things stand, the Rams will be saying goodbye to a number of players this summer when their contracts expire; among the 11 first-team players who aren’t bound are goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith, midfielder Louie Sibley, and veteran trio Conor Hourihane, Martyn Waghorn, and Dwight Gayle. Warne will have to make decisions on these players. The club has scheduled talks with owner David Clowes to discuss their financial options for the upcoming season and what they can offer any players they hope to keep. They also want to make sure that Warne will have a competitive budget to work with as he looks to improve the team.
Warne’s emphasis was quickly returned to the future and the challenges of the Championship after a brief period of jubilation following the club’s 92-point promotion. Though Warne anticipates the ‘juicy’ time of the transfer window to occur later this summer, Derby’s retain and release list confirmation is anticipated in due course. To explore their financial alternatives for the upcoming season and what they can give any players they desire to maintain, the club has planned talks with owner David Clowes. In addition, they want to guarantee that Warne will have a competitive budget to work with while trying to make the team better.
Warne’s focus swiftly reverted to the future and the difficulties of the Championship following the club’s 92-point promotion, following a brief time of celebration. Warne expects Derby to confirm its retain and release list in due course, but believes the ‘juicy’ part of the transfer window will come later this summer.
