Conor Washington out: The 3 Derby County players surely eyeing an early January exit | OneFootball

The Rams have enjoyed a good first half of the season, but some of those not playing, they will be looking to leave.

Derby County have had an extremely solid return to the Championship, and halfway through the season, they look more than capable of finishing mid-table.

The Rams do require reinforcements to ensure that they can stave off any threat of relegation, but after a difficult run of form throughout October and November, things have started to look a bit brighter at Pride Park Stadium.

Paul Warne's side have competed against some of the top sides in the division in recent weeks, and a big win over Portsmouth and an excellent 2-1 victory against West Bromwich Albion have shown that they are a threat to anyone in the league on their day.

However, there will be players that see the January transfer window as an opportunity to move on, and Football League World has taken a look at three current members of the Derby squad that may seek an exit at the start of 2025.

Conor Washington

Conor Washington's time in the East Midlands has been extremely underwhelming, and an exit away from DE24 seems like it's on the cards in the coming weeks.

The 32-year-old is out of contract in the summer, but with the possibility of bringing in a fee, albeit a relatively small one, it would not be a surprise to see him move on in January.

Injuries have plagued his time at Derby, but when given the opportunity to perform by Warne, Washington did not take it, and he has fallen down the pecking order this season.

With the Rams showing interest in both Jayden Danns and Louie Barry, it seems unlikely that his services will be required for much longer.

The forward himself will be looking for minutes elsewhere, and if he is not going to be offered that opportunity by the Rams, then he may try to earn himself a move away.

Joe Ward

In December, Football League World exclusively revealed that both Oxford United and Portsmouth were keeping an eye on Joe Ward's situation at Derby, and with no change in his game time, a move could be made soon.

The former Peterborough United star has had fitness issues throughout his time at Pride Park, and he has struggled to lock down a position in Warne's side.

It has been difficult to work out which position the 29-year-old is best in, having operated at right-back, wing-back and as a winger.

With Ryan Nyambe returning from injury soon, his chances of playing are becoming more and more limited, and he may look for an exit sooner rather than later.

Ward has a year-and-a-half left on his contract, and the Rams will bring in some funds if he does leave, which could play into their decision.

Tom Barkhuizen

Similar to Washington, Tom Barkhuizen's contract at Derby is due to run out at the end of the season, and with playing time limited, the 2024/25 campaign looks likely to be his last at Pride Park.

The winger has made more appearances in recent weeks, but they have been sporadic, and it would not be a surprise to see Warne bring in another winger in January to help his team's attacking firepower.

It's been difficult for Barkhuizen to get a consistent run of games this season, and a calf injury disrupted any momentum he had after the first few games.

He is more than capable of featuring for a team pushing for a play-off spot in League One, and it would be the best-case scenario for all parties if he does move on in the transfer window to free up space in the squad.

Derby need players who will provide goals and assists more often than not, and the 31-year-old does not look like he is able to do that now and might push for a move away.