Wayne shuts the window on Albion

DERBY captain Tom Lawrence won’t be leaving in the January transfer window.

Lawrence has been linked with a number of clubs, including West Brom, amid reports he could be available on a free transfer due to the Rams’ off-field plight, which has left them staring relegation to League One in the face.

Rams’ boss Wayne Rooney might need to be assess his squad in the winter window as the club look to cut costs after being hit with a second points deduction for breaching the EFL’s Profitability and Sustainability rules, but he insists Lawrence will see out his contract at Pride Park.

“There is no pressure on any players leaving this football club in January,’’ he said. “If players leave it will be because there is an opportunity for them, and they may come to me and say ‘I want to leave’.

“No player will leave this club without me giving it the go-ahead. With Tom Lawrence, he will be here until the end of the season.”

Lawrence, who has also been linked with Stoke City and Swansea City, added: “For me to leave in January it would have to be for the benefit of the club, and for me, otherwise there would be no point in me leaving.

“I want to see the season out here, but I don’t know what can happen in the future.

“I am out of contract (at the end of the season) and so are many other lads here, so we are all kind of not knowing what is going to go on.

“All the lads want to sort their future out but we are in the position we are in, we all knew we were going to be in the last year of our contracts but we have to do a professional job and keep putting in performances, like we have been doing.”