The Rams are still keen to make additions before the window closes at the end of the month
Paul Warne admits Derby County are caught up in a transfer chain and says other EFL managers feel the same after attending a meeting with them this week.
The Rams head coach attended a get-together in midweek during which numerous issues were discussed. Transfers were among the topics that Warne discussed with other managers during the downtime and why the market has felt a little sluggish.
But Warne said that the fact that Euro 2024 has taken place and followed by Premier League clubs going away on tour has had an impact.
“Everyone knows I am not going to let him go, but if somebody came in for Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, I wouldn’t let him go until I had got my replacement in,” he said. “It’s a bit like buying a house, you’re in a chain and if it breaks it is a disaster.
“I went to a meeting with all the managers in the EFL and they’re all having the same problem. Everyone is saying that players are demanding too much money. But it feels like because of the Euros everything is a bit clogged at the top (Premier League). Teams are still on tour in America and Australia and until the Prem boys come back, it takes time.”
Buy our Derby County 2024/25 special – pre-order now from our online store
Derby County are back in the Championship after basking in the glory of promotion and the excitement around Pride Park continues to grow ahead of the big kick-off.
With the season’s opener at Blackburn just around the corner, Rams fans are wondering what the campaign will hold now they are back in the second tier.
Armed with five new signings and more to come before the window closes, Derby’s squad will have a new-look come August 9. We’ve already been treated to glimpses of Kenzo Goudmijn’s flair in the centre of midfield while new front pair Jerry Yates and Kayden Jackson are both off the mark in pre-season.
Ebou Adams is back and patrolling midfield with the tenacity and aggression that made him such a huge hit last season. And Ben Osborn has secured an emotional homecoming to Pride Park, the club he grew up watching on the terraces.
In a league that contains some big punchers in Leeds and Sheffield United, there are some blockbusting fixtures to look forward to.
And with the Rams set to be backed by legions of black and white as they return to some familiar destinations, it is a season that promises plenty of excitement.
It is a great time to be a Derby fan and to celebrate the feelgood factor around Pride Park we’ve produced our Derby County 2024-25 Kick Off special, our brilliant guide to the new season.
Our man at Pride Park, Leigh Curtis, will assess the season ahead and what lies in store for a club that is back on the up under owner David Clowes.
Our club-by-club guides give you the lowdown on Derby’s Championship rivals and the managers in the division, while our away days pages will tell you all you need to know about the grounds the Rams will be visiting.
With a full fixture list and key dates for the campaign, Derby County’s 2024-25 Kick-Off will get you back in perfect match shape in time for the opening day clash at Blackburn on August 9.
