Much might happen before the deadline
DERBY County, lifted by their first League victory of the season over Norwich City, return to Championship action on Friday.
The Rams are at home against Watford, another of the teams relegated from the Premier League last season.
Friday is also transfer deadline day. The window closes at 5pm and here is the latest state of play at Derby:
WHAT’S HAPPENED SO FAR?
Eight players have been signed since the end of last season, including goalkeeper David Marshall from Wigan Athletic and defenders Nathan Byrne (from Wigan), Mike te Wierik (from FC Groningen) and Matt Clarke (on a season-long loan from Brighton).
Winger Kamil Jozwiak arrived from Lech Poznan for an undisclosed fee and former Liverpool and Bournemouth player Jordon Ibe as a free agent.
Striker Bobby Duncan (from Fiorentina) and midfielder Isaac Hutchinson (from Southend United) have been added to the under-23 squad.
The Rams have sold three players so far – Jayden Bogle, Max Lowe and Mason Bennett.
Bogle and Lowe joined Sheffield United in a joint deal for a reported £11m, although there have been differing reports on the size of the fee.
Bennett, the 24-year-old forward who holds the record as Derby’s youngest player and scorer, joined Millwall in a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.
Left-back Scott Malone also moved to Millwall, the 29-year-old joining the Lions on a season-long loan.
Other players to have gone out on season-long loans are goalkeepers Scott Carson (to Manchester City), Jonathan Mitchell (to Northampton Town) and Henrich Ravas (to Hartlepool), while 20-year-old winger Jayden Mitchell-Lawson has joined Bristol Rovers on loan.
MORE ARRIVALS EXPECTED
Derby continue their search for a striker to boost attacking options.
They are looking for a centreforward, a physical presence, but the current market is a tough one and finding one is not proving easy.
The Rams will keep looking but they will not bring one in for the sake of it. The striker has to fit what manager Phillip Cocu wants.
West Bromwich Albion’s Charlie Austin has been linked with the Rams but a move looks unlikely, as things stand.
The 31-year-old has been limited to appearances in the Carabao Cup for Albion this season, although recent reports have suggested he wants to stay and fight for his place.
Albion have lost striker Hal Robson-Kanu with a broken arm and appear to be stalling on allowing Austin to leave, either permanently or on loan, but it has been reported that they are still looking to sign a forward before the deadline.
WHO IS BEING LINKED?
Derby have been linked with defender Jay Clarke-Salter (Chelsea), Baba Rahman (Chelsea) and 18-year-old Haydon Roberts (Brighton & Hove Albion) in the past week.
The Rams, according to Goal. com, are reportedly among a clutch of Championship clubs interested in Clarke-Salter, a 23-year-old centre-back, and the Daily Mail has reported Derby interest 26-year-old full back Rahman, who spent last season on loan with Spanish club RCD Mallorca.
But Derby are not looking at defenders, as things stand.
They have options at centreback in Matt Clarke, Curtis Davies, George Evans, Mike te Wierik and Krystian Bielik. At right-back, they have Nathan Byrne and Andre Wisdom and at left-back they have Craig Forsyth and Lee Buchanan.
Wisdom and Forsyth can also play centre-back.
WHO COULD LEAVE?
This could go down to the wire on Friday.
Reports elsewhere have claimed Leeds United could make a bid for Louie Sibley but Derby do not want to sell the 19-year-old midfielder and the Rams had not been contacted by Leeds at the time of writing, despite further reports claiming Derby want £10m for the player.
There was talk over whether Florian Jozefzoon would leave in the January transfer window. That did not happen but his future at the club remains uncertain.
A couple of clubs have shown an interest in the 29-year-old winger, I understand.
Jozefzoon is not in first-team plans and has not been given a squad number. He last started a game against Luton Town on October 5 and has made only five appearances as a substitute since.