Derby County will be looking to bolster their squad ready for the Championship this summer.
Derby chief Stephen Pearce promised Paul Warne with the funds to spend if he earned promotion, doing so by finishing second in League One.
Warne has a lot of work to do in the transfer window to get his side equipped for the challenge of second-tier football.
Not only does he have to resolve the futures of 12 players, who see their contracts expire this summer, he has to improve almost every position in his squad with quality.
It’s an unenviable task given how difficult it is to navigate the market but the club does have some targets in mind.
Derby County’s transfer priorities
Derby’s priority is luring Ebou Adams to the club permanently. The 28-year-old starred on loan from Cardiff City and the club saw a £250,000 bid rejected this week.
Cardiff manager Erol Bulut has since revealed he’s open to discussing his future but was pleased with how well he’s performed at Pride Park.
Warne will also need to add firepower to his ranks. The Rams scored the second-fewest goals of teams that finished in the top six, so bagging goals in the Championship could be a problem unless they invest.
Derby are likely to give top scorer James Collins a new contract, but as he’s 33, a long-term replacement for the Irishman has been mooted.
Warne will also need added depth on the wing and a player to challenge Eiran Cashin and Curtis Nelson in defence, with one Championship star emerging as an option.
READ MORE: Derby County star Eiran Cashin’s journey from almost released to Premier League transfer interest
Derby County should move for Plymouth Argyle’s Brendan Galloway
Central defence is arguably Derby’s strongest position on paper. Nelson and Cashin were colossal as a duo and helped the Rams keep a league-high 20 clean sheets.
Including conceding the fewest goals in League One (37), bolstering his defence for starters isn’t a priority, but capturing Brendan Galloway from Plymouth Argyle would add solid depth to their ranks.
A left-sided ball-playing defender by trade, Galloway has enjoyed a fine season at the Pilgrims, appearing 25 times in the Championship.
The former Everton academy graduate is comfortable at carrying the ball out of defence and would offer Warne positional versatility.
Galloway is capable of slotting into left back or as a left midfielder in a 3-5-2, depending on what system the manager deploys.
Although he’s suffered his fair share of injury problems, which is what Derby supporters won’t want to hear, he does rank impressively against his position peers in the Championship.
Galloway has flourished as a defensive titan in a side battling against relegation, with his development previously drawing “special” praise from former Everton manager Roberto Martinez.
Indeed, Derby should race to snap up the 28-year-old on a free transfer, especially if Plymouth suffer relegation to League One this afternoon.
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