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Keep, sell or loan: Five Derby County players in the transfer spotlight
The transfer window has opened for business with Derby County set to be busy in the market as Paul Warne looks to reshape his squad this summer.
But while the club will be concentrating on making additions, with every area of the squad set to be reinforced, what about the players still on the books?
Krystian Bielik’s future remains unclear, Liam Thompson is entering the final year of his contract, speculation is following Jason Knight and there is also Jake Rooney’s development to consider.
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Here Derbyshire Live takes a look at five players and gives its verdict on who should be sold, who should go out on loan and who should be kept.
Krystian Bielik
It’s no secret that Birmingham City want to sign Derby midfielder Krystian Bielik, whose future is likely to dominate the Rams headlines this summer. But no offer has yet been made for the 25-year-old, who won plenty of acclaim for his performances this season.
Blues boss John Eustace wants him permanently, but the Championship club has issues with FFP they need to sort first. However, with Jude Bellingham’s transfer being confirmed to Real Madrid, Blues will be paid a handsome percentage as part of a sell-on clause inserted in the deal that took the England starlet to Dortmund three years ago.
That may give them a bit of leeway and the cash to finally put an offer on the table with Bielik’s future currently in the hands of his agent.
Either way, the chances of Bielik staying at Derby look remote even though he would walk League One given he is such a classy operator. But the player has a desire to play in the Championship with Bielik expecting news on his future in late June or July.
But for Derby, a sale does make sense as it will free them of his wages, and the former Arsenal man is among their top earners.
Derby also owe the Gunners money as part of the original payment plan agreed when Bielik moved from the Emirates in 2019.
Verdict: Sell
Liam Thompson
The midfielder endured a frustrating end to the season in which injury disrupted a loan spell at Scunthorpe United.
With one year remaining on his contract, it is a big season for the academy graduate, who faces a seriously tough task in trying to break into Derby’s midfield.
With head coach Paul Warne expected to strengthen that area of the pitch, his chances of first-team football do look unlikely.
If you take into account who is currently ahead of him, it is a role call of established players such as Conor Hourihane, Max Bird, Jason Knight and Korey Smith.
That’s without any midfield additions being made. What may be a compromise is that Thompson goes out on loan for the season to see how he fares.
That would give Derby some breathing space before making a decision on whether to offer him a new contract. And if they do and Thompson turns it down, Derby will still be entitled to compensation.
VERDICT: Loan
Jake Rooney
The defender produced some excellent performances when he was drafted into the first team last season and instantly became a favourite among the fans.
Derby will reinforce their defence this season with centre-backs high on the priority list given Curtis Davies, James Chester and Richard Stearman were all released.
With Craig Forsyth penning a new one-year contract and Eiran Cashin at Pride Park, there will be at least two centre-backs arriving this summer.
That leaves Derby with a decision to make on Rooney, a player who Warne rates highly but has always said he likes his young players to have regular minutes.
A loan move for Rooney would be a sensible option and would undoubtedly be good for his development. He would have no shortage of takers given he impressed when he was drafted into the first team.
Rooney is in that awkward period in which he is too good for the under-23s, but not quite ready yet to be established in the first team.
Verdict: Loan
Jason Knight
As one of the poster boys of Derby’s academy, speculation is going to consistently follow Knight, who still has a year left on his contract.
He is an established Republic of Ireland international and will undoubtedly have designs on playing at the highest level possible.
Contrary to what Ireland boss Stephen Kenny said about Knight being on the verge of a move, Derby have not had one offer for the 22-year-old.
But it was clear from his comments that noises are starting to be made about needing to play higher if he is to continue being picked to represent his country.
His versatility will undoubtedly appeal to other clubs given he can play in a variety of positions and you would not bet against Hull City from chancing their arm.
It might well be best for Derby to cash in now should an offer come their way rather than leave it a year when his current deal will expire.
If Knight was to see the remainder of his contract out at Derby they would be entitled to compensation as long as they offered him a new contract.
But the risk you run is that the money may not be as high as the fee they could currently demand.
The midfield will be revamped regardless of whether Knight stays or goes, but selling him could give Derby a decent chunk to reinvest.
Verdict: Sell
Eiran Cashin
The centre-back is hugely popular on the terraces and enjoyed a wonderful campaign in which he was a candidate for the player of the season award.
He has established himself in the heart of the defence where he became one of the first names on the team sheet.
He was a pillar of consistency alongside Craig Forsyth in which the duo formed a terrific partnership which proved the bedrock of a brilliant 19-game unbeaten run.
Given he was ranked as one of the top 10 defenders in League One this season according to WhoScored, allied with performances, clubs further up the pyramid will have surely taken notice.
But he still has plenty of room to grow and although he is entering the final year of his contract, Derby is his best bet of regular first-team football right now.
Verdict: Keep
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